Treatment with Taper Up-Off Protocol of Opium Tincture Could Change the Ion Channels Activity in Hippocampus of Epilepsy Rodent Model: A Brief Report
July 2025, Psychiatry Research 2(4):1-6
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures resulting from abnormal, excessive electrical discharges in the brain. The epilepsy model was developed in rats to assess behavioral, pathological alterations, and potential molecular mechanisms. Present study is an early results of investigate of the effects of opium tincture on hippocampus of epilepsy rat model. The epilepsy rat model were treated with taper up-off of opium tincture protocol called Dezhakam-step-time (DST) in four different dosages. The hippocampus tissues were collected, RNA extracted and cDNA synthesis were performed. The expression level of ion channel related genes have been assessed using the quantitative Real-time PCR. All ion channels related genes were significantly altered in hippocampus tissue of epilepsy models vs. normal controls hippocampus tissue. Results showed all doses of the taper-up-off opium tincture treatment had altered the expression level of several genes. The GABA-A receptor, sodium voltage-gated channel and calcium voltage-gated channel related genes were changed after the opium tincture treatment, especially at higher dosages. The early findings of the gene expression study regarding epilepsy models rats treated with opium tincture suggest that the ion channels pathways activity has been potentially re-regulated and approached to the normal level after the treatment. It seems that the DST method of opium tincture usage may potentially reduce the neuronal excitability and help to balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain of epileptic patients.
Please read the full article in the following URL:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394043610_Treatment_with_Taper_Up-Off_Protocol_of_Opium_Tincture_Could_Change_the_Ion_Channels_Activity_in_Hippocampus_of_Epilepsy_Rodent_Model_A_Brief_Report
DOI: 10.52106/2771-1331.1023