The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2010/08, 110(8):446. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2010.110.8.445, type of study: ,ani,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2010.110.8.445/html)

Keywords:

animal experiment [68]
brain [108]
endocannabinoids [7]
epilepsy [9]
myofascial release [62]

Abstract:

Background: Endocannabinoids have been shown to protect the brain from a variety of neuropathogenic insults possibly by reducing excitation. Elevated levels of endocannabinoids can attenuate seizure susceptibility and severity in mature animals. Moreover, seizures in adults cause redistribution of CB1 receptor expression within the hippocampus. Interestingly, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can elevate serum endocannabinoid levels and this may benefit individuals with seizures. Hypothesis: Because the incidence of seizures is highest in the immature brain, we hypothesized that OMT may (I) raise the seizure threshold and decrease seizure severity in the immature brain, (ii) raise endocannabinoid levels of the immature hippocampus after a single episode of status epilepticus and (iii) alter CB1 receptor expression in the hippocampus after a single episode of status epilepticus. Methods and Materials: Modified myofascial techniques were performed on male Sprague Dawley rats twice daily from postnatal day (P) 9 to P16 and once on P17 before sacrifice. Sham animals were handled for the same length and duration of time. The rat pups were injected with kainic acid (KA) on P13 to induce status epilepticus. A modified seizure scoring method was used to access seizure severity. Synaptosomal uptake was used to measure endocannabinoid activity in the hippocampus post status epilepticus and OMT. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine CB1 receptor distribution and expression in the hippocampus. Results: Animals that received OMT+KA proved to have significantly lower seizure scores compared to sham+KA and KA-only animals. Animals that received OMT+KA showed significantly higher levels of AEA in the hippocampus compared to the rest of the groups. All KA animals, (OMT+KA, sham+KA, and KA only) showed to have increased expression of CB1 receptor in the CA1 region of hippocampus and dorsal plate of the dentate gyrus compared to the control animals (OMT and sham-only groups). Conclusion: The results from this study may be a stepping-stone in understanding the beneficial effects of OMT on the brain, particularly in young patients with seizures. We anticipate that OMT will eventually be used as a neuroprotective adjunctive treatment to decrease seizure susceptibility and severity by enhancing the endocannabinoid system and consequently reducing the need for pharmacological agents in epilepsy patients.