Effects of Epilepsy and Sleep Deprivation on Melatomin 1 Receptor Gene Expression in Cerebral Cortex of Pilocarpine Induced Epileptic Rats

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious disorders of the brain, affecting at least 50 million people worldwide. Changing urban life style, competition to achieve the targets at the work place, increased study hours and parental pressure has decreased total sleeping hours from a day in our modern society Sleep disturbance is common in epilepsy. Evidence suggests that having epilepsy and the occurrence of seizures are associated with significant sleep disruption. In the present study we examined the effect of epilepsy and sleep deprivation on MT1 receptor gene expression in cerebral cortex in pilocarpine induced epileptic rats. MT1 receptor gene expression was significantly decreased in C+SD and E+SD groups when compared to C. There was no significant change observed in MT1 receptor gene expression in E as compared to C. Blood glucose level of control and experimental groups were measured during sleep deprivation. Blood glucose level was normal in control and experimental groups before starting sleep deprivation. Blood glucose was significantly increased during sleep deprivation in E+SD and C+SD as compared to C. Blood glucose level of control and experimental groups were found to be normal after sleep deprivation. Forced Swim test and Tail Suspension test is a good indicator of depression. There was a significant increase in immobility in E rats as compared to C was observed in Forced swim test and Tail suspension test. A significant increase in immobility in C+SD rats as compared to C was observed in Forced swim test and Tail suspension test. A significant increase in immobility in E+SD rats as compared to C was observed in Forced swim test and Tail suspension test. This increased immobility was due to high level of behaviour despair and depression caused by epilepsy and sleep deprivation. Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in both, liver and cerebral cortex was increased in epileptic rats compared to C. Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in both, liver and cerebral cortex was decreased in E+SD and C+SD when compared to C. Abbreviations: C-Control, C+SD-Control+Sleep Deprived, E-Epileptic , E+SD-Epileptic+Sleep Deprived.