Evaluating a Venom-Bioinspired Peptide, NOR-1202, as an Antiepileptic Treatment in Male Mice Models

• Published in: Toxins Vol. 16; no. 8; p. 342
• Main Authors: Quintanilha, Maria Varela Torres, Gobbo, Giovanna de Azevedo Mello, Pinheiro, Gabriela Beserra, Souza, Adolfo Carlos Barros de, Camargo, Luana Cristina, Mortari, Marcia Renata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.08.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Amino acids; Anesthesia; Animal models; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Anticonvulsants - pharmacology; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Antiepileptic agents; antiepileptic drugs; Anxiety; Convulsions & seizures; Disease Models, Animal; Drug dosages; Electric discharges; Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - chemically induced; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - drug therapy; Kainic acid; kainic acid (KA); Kainic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Male; Males; Mice; Neomycin; Nervous system; Neurological diseases; occidentalin-1202; Peptides; Peptides - administration & dosage; Peptides - pharmacology; Peptides - therapeutic use; Pharmacokinetics; Pilocarpine; Seizures; Seizures (Medicine); Seizures - chemically induced; Seizures - drug therapy; Temporal lobe; temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE); Toxicity; Venom; wasp venom; Brazil; Polybia occidentalis; pilocarpine; antiepileptic drugs; kainic acid (KA); wasp venom; temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE); occidentalin-1202
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins16080342

Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by excessive neuronal activity and synchronized electrical discharges, ranks among the most prevalent global neurological conditions. Despite common use, antiepileptic drugs often result in adverse effects and lack effectiveness in controlling seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. Recent research explored the potential of occidentalin-1202, a peptide inspired by venom, in safeguarding Wistar rats from chemically induced seizures. The present study evaluated the new analog from occidentalin-1202 named NOR-1202 using acute and chronic pilocarpine-induced models and an acute kainic acid (KA) male mice model. NOR-1202 was administered through the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), subcutaneous, or intraperitoneal routes, with stereotaxic procedures for the i.c.v. injection. In the acute pilocarpine-induced model, NOR-1202 (i.c.v.) protected against generalized seizures and mortality but lacked systemic antiepileptic activity. In the KA model, it did not prevent generalized seizures but improved survival. In the chronic TLE model, NOR-1202's ED did not differ significantly from the epileptic or healthy groups regarding time spent in spontaneous recurrent seizures during the five-day treatment. However, the NOR-1202 group exhibited more seizures than the healthy group on the second day of treatment. In summary, NOR-1202 exhibits antiepileptic effects against chemoconvulsant-induced seizures, but no effect was observed when administered systemically.