Tina Chi

The brain undergoes various neurological responses following traumatic brain injury (TBI): over time these changes lead to an increased risk for development of post traumatic epilepsy (PTE). The objective of this work was to determine the effect of deferiprone, levetiracetam, and sodium selenate on oxidative stress in the rat model of posttraumatic epilepsy. Catalase, a measure of oxidative stress, was measured using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in the plasma of rats following TBI treated either vehicle, deferiprone, levetiracetam, and sodium selenate. Results revealed that those treated with high dose sodium selenate had a statistically significant increase in the average catalase activity compared with vehicle or low doses of sodium selenate. There was no significant difference in levetiracetam and deferiprone treated groups. Since oxidative stress is due to imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in the body, a drug such as sodium selenate, which possess antioxidant properties, may be effective in reducing oxidative stress following TBI. Further research should be conducted to provide a better understanding of the use of sodium selenate to reduce oxidative stress and prevent PTE.