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Genistein modulation of seizure: involvement of estrogen and serotonin receptors

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Abstract

Genistein, a major source of phytoestrogen exposure for humans and animals, has been shown to mediate neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s disease and status epilepticus. In the present study, we investigated the effect of genistein on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in ovariectomized mice and the possible involvement of estrogenic and serotonergic pathways in the probable effects of genistein. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of genistein (10 mg/kg) significantly increased the seizure threshold 30 min prior to induction of seizures 14 days after ovariectomy surgery. Administration of fulvestrant (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an estrogen receptor antagonist, completely reversed the anticonvulsant effect of genistein (10 mg/kg) in ovariectomized mice. Administration of the antagonist of serotonin receptor (5-HT3), tropisetron (10 mg/kg, i.p.), eliminated the anticonvulsant effect of genistein, whereas co-administration of m-chlorophenylbiguanide (5-HT3 receptor agonist; 1 mg/kg) and a non-effective dose of genistein (5 mg/kg) increased the seizure threshold. To conclude, it seems that estrogenic/serotonergic systems might be involved in the anticonvulsant properties of genistein.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by a grant from Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 91-02-158-18213).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Saeed Amiri Gheshlaghi, Razieh Mohammad Jafari, Mohammad Algazo, Nastaran Rahimi, Hussein Alshaib & Ahmad Reza Dehpour

  2. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 13145-784, Iran

    Saeed Amiri Gheshlaghi, Razieh Mohammad Jafari, Mohammad Algazo, Nastaran Rahimi, Hussein Alshaib & Ahmad Reza Dehpour

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  1. Saeed Amiri Gheshlaghi
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  2. Razieh Mohammad Jafari
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  3. Mohammad Algazo
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  5. Hussein Alshaib
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Correspondence to Ahmad Reza Dehpour.

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Amiri Gheshlaghi, S., Mohammad Jafari, R., Algazo, M. et al. Genistein modulation of seizure: involvement of estrogen and serotonin receptors. J Nat Med 71, 537–544 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-017-1088-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-017-1088-3

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