Abstract: Objective To explore the protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid(ALA)on cognitive function in an epilepsy model by pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-kindling and the mechanism.Methods The healthy adult male 36 SD rats were randomly assigned into three groups:control group,PTZ group,and drug therapy group(12 rats,each group).PTZ and drug therapy groups were injected intraperitoneally with PTZ to establish PTZ-kindling model.ALA was injected intraperitoneally in the drug therapy group.Morris water maze was used to evaluate spacial learning and memory function.Spectrophotometry was used to detect the levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione,2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluoresce in diacetate probe was used to detect the level of reactive oxygen species in the hippocampi of the rats.Results In the Morris water maze,all animals showed a progressive decline in the escape latency with training.The rats in PTZ group exhibited a significant prolongation of escape latency.In PTZ group,the escape latency was significantly prolonged(P <0.05)and time spent in the target quadrant was shortened(P < 0.05),ROS and MDA significantly increased(P < 0.05),but GSH significantly decreased(P < 0.05).However, administration of ALA significantly improved the performance in MWM,and decreased the contents of ROS and MDA,increased the level of GSH.Conclusion Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy,ALA can effectively protect cognitive function and ameliorate oxidative damage,which provides a new way for treating cognitive impairment induced by epilepsy.

Key words: epilepsy, pentylenetetrazole, thioctic acid, cognition