Chronic Exercise and Vitamin C Attenuate Lipid Peroxidation in Distinct Brain Regions of Epileptic Rats

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in different brain regions of epileptic rats subjected to chronic swimming exercise and vitamin C administration.
METHODS: A total of 48 rats were randomly divided into six equal groups: Control, Swimming, Swimming + Vitamin C, Swimming + Epilepsy, Swimming + Epilepsy + Vitamin C, and Epilepsy. Chronic swimming exercise was performed for 90 days (30 min/day). Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day. Epilepsy was induced by injecting 500 IU penicillin into the left somatomotor cortex. At the end of the experimental period, brainstem, cerebellum, and brain tissue tissues were collected. Malondialdehyde (MDA, nmol/ml) levels were measured as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, while reduced glutathione (GSH, µmol/ml) levels were determined to assess antioxidant capacity.
RESULTS: In the epilepsy groups, a significant increase in MDA levels and a marked decrease in GSH concentrations were observed compared to the control and Swimming+Vitamin C groups (p<0.05). Combined exercise and vitamin C administration suppressed lipid peroxidation and partially improved antioxidant defense in brain tissue in epileptic rats (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that epilepsy is associated with increased oxidative damage and impaired antioxidant defenses in multiple brain regions. Chronic swimming exercise together with vitamin C supplementation may exert protective effects by reducing lipid peroxidation and improving antioxidant capacity in the epileptic brain

Keywords: Epilepsy, Oxidative stress, Swimming exercise, Vitamin C, Antioxidant defense