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

• Grant number: 21/06473-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2021
• End date: October 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Norberto Cysne Coimbra
• Grantee: Fabrízio dos Santos Cardoso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/11976-8 - Cytochrome oxidase activity in the brain of rats with epilepsy exposed to photobiomodulation: a quantitative histochemical study, BE.EP.PD

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)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CLAUDINO DOS SANTOS, JULIO CESAR; OLIVEIRA, LEANDRO FREITAS; NOLETO, FELIPE MICELLI; PINHEIRO GUSMAO, CAMILLA TEIXEIRA; DE CASTRO BRITO, GERLY ANNE; DE BARROS VIANA, GLAUCE SOCORRO. Gut-microbiome-brain axis: the crosstalk between the vagus nerve, alpha-synuclein and the brain in Parkinson's disease. NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH, v. 18, n. 12, p. 4-pg., 2023-12-01. (21/06473-4)

CARDOSO, FABRIZIO DOS SANTOS; GONZALEZ-LIMA, FRANCISCO; COIMBRA, NORBERTO CYSNE. Mitochondrial Photobiomodulation as a Neurotherapeutic Strategy for Epilepsy. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, v. 13, p. 5-pg., 2022-06-16. (21/06473-4, 09/00668-6)

CARDOSO, FABRIZIO DOS SANTOS; SALEHPOUR, FARZAD; COIMBRA, NORBERTO CYSNE; GONZALEZ-LIMA, FRANCISCO; GOMES DA SILVA, SERGIO. Photobiomodulation for the treatment of neuroinflammation: A systematic review of controlled laboratory animal studies. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, v. 16, p. 13-pg., 2022-09-20. (21/06473-4, 20/15050-7, 17/16443-0)