en Effects of <i>Vitex agnus - castus</i> Extract on After- Discharge Threshold, Seizure Stages and Kindling Acquisition in Male Rats فارماكولوژی و سم شناسی Pharmacology & Toxicology پژوهشی Research <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> <i>Vitex agnus </i>-<i> castus</i> extract (Vitex) is available in dosage forms for female disorders treatment. This extract has shown controversial effects against seizures induced by Maximal electroshock (MES) or pentylenetetrazole (PTZ).</p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective:</strong> In the present study the anti-seizure activity of Vitex against acquisition of amygdala kindling was evaluated in male rats.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> Intact male rats were stereotaxically implanted with a tripolar and 2 monopolar electrodes in amygdala and dura respectively. The threshold of AD emerging was determined in each animal. Then, Vitex or solvent was injected and AD threshold was determined again. Also, Vitex injection was continued daily and seizure stages (S1 to S5) and ADDs were recorded 30 min post Vitex injection till development of full kindling.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> Vitex treatment increased the AD threshold significantly more than 2.5 times and decreased the after-discharge duration (ADD). Although, the number of trials increased significantly by Vitex for exhibition of stages 1 (S1) to S3, but this effect was not significant for development of S4 and S5 (generalized seizures). The cumulative ADDs difference between control and Vitex group was only significant for S3 - S5.</p> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Vitex may induce a protective effect via increment of stimulation threshold and decrement of ADD at least against focal epilepsy in amygdala neurons. Regarding to its limited effects on kindling acquisition at late stage with generalized seizures, Vitex may postpone the progress of epileptic activity at initial stages.</div> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> <i>Vitex agnus </i>-<i> castus</i> extract (Vitex) is available in dosage forms for female disorders treatment. This extract has shown controversial effects against seizures induced by Maximal electroshock (MES) or pentylenetetrazole (PTZ).</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective:</strong> In the present study the anti-seizure activity of Vitex against acquisition of amygdala kindling was evaluated in male rats.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> Intact male rats were stereotaxically implanted with a tripolar and 2 monopolar electrodes in amygdala and dura respectively. The threshold of AD emerging was determined in each animal. Then, Vitex or solvent was injected and AD threshold was determined again. Also, Vitex injection was continued daily and seizure stages (S1 to S5) and ADDs were recorded 30 min post Vitex injection till development of full kindling.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> Vitex treatment increased the AD threshold significantly more than 2.5 times and decreased the after-discharge duration (ADD). Although, the number of trials increased significantly by Vitex for exhibition of stages 1 (S1) to S3, but this effect was not significant for development of S4 and S5 (generalized seizures). The cumulative ADDs difference between control and Vitex group was only significant for S3 - S5.</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Vitex may induce a protective effect via increment of stimulation threshold and decrement of ADD at least against focal epilepsy in amygdala neurons. Regarding to its limited effects on kindling acquisition at late stage with generalized seizures, Vitex may postpone the progress of epileptic activity at initial stages.</div> Vitex, Male rats, Amygdala, Kindling acquisition, Seizure Vitex, Male rats, Amygdala, Kindling acquisition, Seizure 66 74 http://jmp.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-114-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 M Saberi صابری m_s_saber@yahoo.com 100319475328460038117 100319475328460038117 Yes Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Applied Neuroscience Investigation Center, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Applied Neuroscience Investigation Center, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran AR Rezvanizadeh رضوانی زاده 100319475328460038118 100319475328460038118 No Shaheed Beheshti University Neurosciences Investigation Center, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Shaheed Beheshti University Neurosciences Investigation Center, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran