BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL MODELS ON LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO KAINIC ACID FOLLOWED BY NICOTINE – LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY STUDY

Abstract

Long term administration of Nicotine is capable to protect the excitotoxicity and neuronal degeneration induced by Kainic acid and it’s analogues in rodents.  16 adult male albino rats of wistar strain weighing 135-150 grams were used for the present study. The rats were divided in to four groups each consists of 4 animals. The control group was given 0.9% saline as vehicle and the experimental groups (group-II with 1mg/kg Nicotine; group III- Kainic acid 1mg/kg; IV- Kainic acid followed by Nicotine 1mg/kg bodyweight) were given intraperitoneal injections respectively for a period of 28 days. All the animals were utilized on last day of the experiment by using digital photoactometer to study the locomotor activity.  The mean and standard deviation for the control group was 396.4683+5.802298, for Nicotine treated group was 201.4441+12.91962, Kainic acid treated group was 163.7172679+3.774917218 and Kainic acid followed by Nicotine group was 256.3096+11.44552 calculated and recorded. There was a significant locomotor activity improvement in kainic acid followed by nicotine treated group compared to kainic acid and nicotine treated groups was observed.  Our study helps to understand the neuroprotective effect of nicotine on kainic acid induced excitotoxicity.