Low brain ascorbic acid increases susceptibility to seizures in mouse models of decreased brain ascorbic acid transport and Alzheimer's disease. 2015

Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Electronic address: timothy.warner@vanderbilt.edu.

Seizures are a known co-occurring symptom of Alzheimer's disease, and they can accelerate cognitive and neuropathological dysfunction. Sub-optimal vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency, that is low levels that do not lead the sufferer to present with clinical signs of scurvy (e.g. lethargy, hemorrhage, hyperkeratosis), are easily obtainable with insufficient dietary intake, and may contribute to the oxidative stress environment of both Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to test whether mice that have diminished brain ascorbic acid in addition to carrying human Alzheimer's disease mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PSEN1) genes, had altered electrical activity in the brain (electroencephalography; EEG), and were more susceptible to pharmacologically induced seizures. Brain ascorbic acid was decreased in APP/PSEN1 mice by crossing them with sodium vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2) heterozygous knockout mice. These mice have an approximately 30% decrease in brain ascorbic acid due to lower levels of SVCT2 that supplies the brain with ASC. SVCT2+/-APP/PSEN1 mice had decreased ascorbic acid and increased oxidative stress in brain, increased mortality, faster seizure onset latency following treatment with kainic acid (10 mg/kg i.p.), and more ictal events following pentylenetetrazol (50 mg/kg i.p.) treatment. Furthermore, we report the entirely novel phenomenon that ascorbic acid deficiency alone increased the severity of kainic acid- and pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. These data suggest that avoiding ascorbic acid deficiency may be particularly important in populations at increased risk for epilepsy and seizures, such as Alzheimer's disease.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007608 Kainic Acid (2S-(2 alpha,3 beta,4 beta))-2-Carboxy-4-(1-methylethenyl)-3-pyrrolidineacetic acid. Ascaricide obtained from the red alga Digenea simplex. It is a potent excitatory amino acid agonist at some types of excitatory amino acid receptors and has been used to discriminate among receptor types. Like many excitatory amino acid agonists it can cause neurotoxicity and has been used experimentally for that purpose. Digenic Acid,Kainate,Acid, Digenic,Acid, Kainic
D008297 Male Males
D008315 Malondialdehyde The dialdehyde of malonic acid. Malonaldehyde,Propanedial,Malonylaldehyde,Malonyldialdehyde,Sodium Malondialdehyde,Malondialdehyde, Sodium
D008822 Mice, Transgenic Laboratory mice that have been produced from a genetically manipulated EGG or EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Transgenic Mice,Founder Mice, Transgenic,Mouse, Founder, Transgenic,Mouse, Transgenic,Mice, Transgenic Founder,Transgenic Founder Mice,Transgenic Mouse
D010433 Pentylenetetrazole A pharmaceutical agent that displays activity as a central nervous system and respiratory stimulant. It is considered a non-competitive GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID antagonist. Pentylenetetrazole has been used experimentally to study seizure phenomenon and to identify pharmaceuticals that may control seizure susceptibility. Leptazole,Pentamethylenetetrazole,Pentetrazole,Cardiazol,Corasol,Corazol,Corazole,Korazol,Korazole,Metrazol,Metrazole,Pentazol,Pentylenetetrazol
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D004195 Disease Models, Animal Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases. Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D004567 Electrodes, Implanted Surgically placed electric conductors through which ELECTRIC STIMULATION is delivered to or electrical activity is recorded from a specific point inside the body. Implantable Electrodes,Implantable Stimulation Electrodes,Implanted Electrodes,Implanted Stimulation Electrodes,Electrode, Implantable,Electrode, Implantable Stimulation,Electrode, Implanted,Electrode, Implanted Stimulation,Electrodes, Implantable,Electrodes, Implantable Stimulation,Electrodes, Implanted Stimulation,Implantable Electrode,Implantable Stimulation Electrode,Implanted Electrode,Implanted Stimulation Electrode,Stimulation Electrode, Implantable,Stimulation Electrode, Implanted,Stimulation Electrodes, Implantable,Stimulation Electrodes, Implanted
D004569 Electroencephalography Recording of electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain, or placed within the substance of the brain. EEG,Electroencephalogram,Electroencephalograms
D005260 Female Females

Related Publications

Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
January 2017, Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
May 2014, Pharmacology & therapeutics,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
April 2022, GeroScience,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
July 2009, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
February 2020, Molecular neurobiology,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
March 2015, Biochemical and biophysical research communications,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
January 2021, PloS one,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
July 2021, International journal of molecular sciences,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
February 2006, Experimental gerontology,
Timothy A Warner, and Jing-Qiong Kang, and John A Kennard, and Fiona E Harrison
March 1985, Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985),
Copied contents to your clipboard!