protective effect of metformin in kainate model of temporal lobe epilepsy in the rat

Background and objective: temporal lobe epilepsy (tle) leads to damage of the hippocampal neurons in the ca3 region. considering the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effect of metformin, the present study was conducted to determine the therapeutic effect of this drug in preventing kainate tle model in the rat.materials and methods: in this study, male wistar rats were divided into sham, sham under treatment with metformin, epilepsy (induced by the kainate) and epilepsy treated with metformin. epilepsy model was induced by unilateral intrahippocampal administration of 0.8 μg of kainate/rat. rats received metformin at 200 mg/kg, i.p. and daily, for 2 weeks after the surgery.results: induction of epilepsy by kainate was followed by a significant seizure and metformin treatment attenuated this. in addition, metformin significantly prevented reduction of density of nissl-stained neurons in ca3 area of the hippocampus. metformin treatment also significantly decreased hippocampal mda and improved glutathione in epileptic group.conclusion: treatment with metformin can prevent seizure intensity in tle rat model which is due to its reduction of oxidative burden and preservation of hippocampal ca3 neurons.