Therapeutic potential of photobiomodulation in rats with Epilepsy: analysis of seizure frequency, cognitive performance, and brain metabolomic profile

• Grant number: 21/06473-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal researcher: Norberto Cysne Coimbra
• Grantee: Fabrízio dos Santos Cardoso
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain characterized by abnormal and highly synchronous activity of neurons. This disorder is the fourth most common neurological condition in the world, and it is estimated 70 million people are affected by epileptic syndromes. Pharmacological treatment with antiepileptic drugs has been essential in most cases. However, a proportion of patients continue to present seizures after drug treatment. Thus, the search for other forms of treatment and new therapeutic interventions has become of great interest in the medical community. Among them, photobiomodulation may become very promising, mainly for its cerebral and neuroprotective effects. To test the therapeutic potential of photobiomodulation in epilepsy, we aim to evaluate: (1) the frequency of seizures, (2) cognitive performance in behavioral tests (Barnes' maze and inhibitory avoidance) and (3) the cortical and hippocampal metabolomic profile (by means of magnetic resonance analytical technique) of rats submitted to model of temporal lobe epilepsy (induced by systemic pilocarpine administration) exposed to a chronic transcranial treatment with a laser diode of 810 nm wavelength and 100 mW power. Our hypothesis is that photobiomodulation results in decreased frequency of seizures and increased cognitive performance in rats with epilepsy, while these benefits are accompanied by modulation in metabolites linked to neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. (AU)