1. Academic Validation
  2. Late treatment with choline alfoscerate (l-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, α-GPC) increases hippocampal neurogenesis and provides protection against seizure-induced neuronal death and cognitive impairment

Late treatment with choline alfoscerate (l-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, α-GPC) increases hippocampal neurogenesis and provides protection against seizure-induced neuronal death and cognitive impairment

  • Brain Res. 2017 Jan 1;1654(Pt A):66-76. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.10.011.
Song Hee Lee 1 Bo Young Choi 2 Jin Hee Kim 2 A Ra Kho 2 Min Sohn 3 Hong Ki Song 4 Hui Chul Choi 4 Sang Won Suh 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurology, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
  • 2 Department of Physiology, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
  • 3 Inha University, Department of Nursing, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
  • 4 Department of Neurology, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea; Hallym Institute of Epilepsy Research, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
  • 5 Department of Physiology, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea; Hallym Institute of Epilepsy Research, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: swsuh@hallym.ac.kr.
Abstract

Choline alfoscerate (α-GPC) is a common choline compound and acetylcholine precursor in the brain, which has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. α-GPC has been shown to enhance memory and cognitive function in stroke and Alzheimer's patients but currently remains untested in patients suffering from epilepsy. This study aimed to evaluate whether α-GPC treatment after seizure can ameliorate seizure-induced cognitive impairment and neuronal injury. The potential therapeutic effects of α-GPC on seizure-induced cognitive impairment were tested in an animal model of pilocarpine-induced seizure. Seizures were induced by intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine (25mg/kg) in male rats. α-GPC (250mg/kg) was injected into the intramuscular space once daily for one or three weeks from immediately after seizure, or from 3 weeks after the seizure onset for 3 weeks. Here we found that immediate 1-week treatment of α-GPC showed no neuroprotective effects and neurogenesis. Immediate 3-week treatment of α-GPC showed neuroprotective effect but no effect on neurogenesis. To evaluate the effect of late treatment of α-GPC on cognitive impairment following seizure, rats were injected α-GPC from 3 weeks after seizure for 3 weeks and subjected to a water maze test. In the present study, we found that administration of α-GPC starting at 3 weeks after seizure improved cognitive function through reduced neuronal death and BBB disruption, and increased neurogenesis. Therefore, α-GPC injection may serve as a beneficial treatment for improvement of cognitive function in epilepsy patients.

Keywords

Blood brain barrier; Choline alfoscerate; Cognitive impairment; Epilepsy; Neuron death; Pilocarpine.

Figures
Products