Abstract:

Atropine reduces ghrelin secretion and ghrelin inhibits epileptic seizures. It is interesting that atropine treated fasting animals develop clonic convulsions soon after food intake. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between these antimuscarinic induced convulsions and ghrelin levels. Methods: Balb/C mice were fasted for 24 hours, then treated with saline or scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) and then given food 20 minutes later. All animals were observed for 30 minutes for the incidence and development of convulsions. Then the levels of ghrelin were measured in blood and brain tissue. Scopolamine treatment caused convulsions in fasted animals after food intake. In saline treated fasted animals, plasma ghrelin concentration was significantly higher than saline treated fed animals. Plasma and tissue ghrelin concentrations were found significantly lower in animals with convulsion than in fasted animals which were given food after saline injection. Conclusion: It was shown that the levels of ghrelin were reduced in the group with convulsions due to scopolamine administration and food intake. Therefore, it is suggested that ghrelin may have a possible role on these convulsions.