Butyrate alleviates PTZ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuron apoptosis in mice via Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

This study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of sodium butyrate against the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindling epilepsy. Sodium butyrate (SB) (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and sodium valproate for 40 days and PTZ (37 mg/kg) injection every day were conducted for Kunming mice, to investigate seizure intensity and latency, oxidative stress parameters, mitochondrial structure and function, histopathology, and Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 expressions. It is shown that seizure latency was effectively increased and the intensity of seizures decreased by treatment with sodium butyrate. It was also found to reverse the structural disruption of the mitochondria, reduce the ROS level and improve the levels of NAD + and ATP in the brains of epileptic mice. Furthermore, pretreatment with SB led to an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD and GSH-PX) in the brain as well as conferred a neuroprotective effect against neuron loss and apoptosis. The activation of Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signals was also identified, in which the antiepileptic effect of SB may be partially due to its anti-mitochondrial injury and neuroprotective activities. Accordingly, the results of a series of functional tests indicate a significant improvement of neurological function following SB treatment. In a mouse model of seizures, brain injury and neurological deficits can be attenuated by treatment with butyrate through the activation of Nrf2 pathway and the improvement of mitochondrial function.