Late treatment with choline alfoscerate increases hippocampal neurogenesis and provides protection against seizure-induced neuronal death and cognitive impairment (P1.229)

Objective: To evaluate whether α-GPC treatment after seizure can ameliorate seizure-induced cognitive impairment and neural injury in the rats. Background: Choline alfoscerate (α-GPC) is a common choline compound found in the hippocampus and brain. α-GPC is also acetylcholine precursor that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. α-GPC is used to enhance memory and cognition for stroke and Alzheimer’s patients but currently remains untested in patients suffering from epilepsy. This study aimed to evaluate whether α-GPC treatment after seizure can ameliorate seizure-induced cognitive impairment and neural injury in the rats. Design/Methods: The potential therapeutic effects of α-GPC on seizure-induced cognitive impairment were tested in animal model of pilocarpine-induced seizure. Seizure was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of pilocarpine (25 mg/kg) in male rats. Whether the difference timing of alpha-injection affect to neuroprotective effect, neurogenesis or cognitive function or not, the seizure induced group was divided into the early and late treatment group. For the early treatment group, we injected with α-GPC (250mg/kg, IM) once a day for 1 week immediately after seizure. For the late treatment group, we injected with α-GPC once a day for 3 weeks starting at 3 weeks after seizure. For comparing with cognitive function, water maze test was performed before and after injection. Results: Early treatment of α-GPC showed no protective effect after seizure-induced neuronal death, whereas late treatment of α-GPC showed less neuronal death and BBB disruption after seizure. Early treatment of showed no difference of neuroblast production in seizure rats, whereas late treatment increased neuroblast production in seizure rats. Also, late treatment improved cognitive function after seizure and increases expression of choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) in hippocampus. Conclusions: The present study suggests that application of α-GPC after seizure may serve as a beneficial treatment for improvement of cognitive function in epilepsy patients Disclosure: Dr. Yoo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose. Dr. SONG has nothing to disclose.