Intestinal inflammation and seizure susceptibility: understanding the role of tumour necrosis factor-α in a rat model

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between colitis and susceptibility to seizures. Methods Colitis was induced in Wistar rats by a single intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS; 20 mg in 35% ethanol). The control group were given intracolonic vehicle. One group of rats with colitis were treated with thalidomide (150 mg/kg p.o.) daily for 14 days. The other colitis group received vehicle only. On day 15, seizure susceptibility was tested by administration of pentylenetetrazole (40 mg/kg i.p.). Colonic tissue was collected for estimation of morphological score, and malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels were measured in serum and brain samples. Key findings The colitis group showed a significant increase in seizure score and reduction in onset time compared with the control group. Thalidomide was protective against seizures, resulting in decreased seizure score and significantly delaying the onset of seizures. Thalidomide also provided significant protection against TNBS-induced colonic damage in terms of morphological and histological score and levels of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in colonic tissue. The level of TNF-alpha in serum was also reduced significantly whereas brain TNF-alpha level was reduced but not significantly. Conclusions TNBS-induced colitis increased seizure susceptibility to a subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazole; the immunomodulator thalidomide was protective.