Page 84 - AN-4-3

Advanced Neurology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
The role of high-density lipoprotein and Vitamin

D in exercise-induced neuroprotection in
epileptic rats

Gelareh Vahhabzadeh 1 , Asal Salimi 2 , Taha Ghantabpour 3 , Ali
Mohammadkhanizadeh 4 , Maryam Jafarian 5 , Nooshin Ahmadirad 2 , and
2
Fariba Karimzadeh *
1 Razi Drug Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for prevention of Non-Communicable
Diseases and Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical
Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
4 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment
of epilepsy)

*Corresponding author:
Fariba Karimzadeh Abstract
(Karimzade.f@iums.ac.ir)
Previous studies have reported the neuroprotective effects of exercise in epilepsy.
Citation: Vahhabzadeh G,
Salimi A, Ghantabpour T, Hence, this study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying these
Mohammadkhanizadeh A, neuroprotective effects by examining changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL),
Jafarian M, Ahmadirad N, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and Vitamin D levels. Wistar rats were divided into four
Karimzadeh F. The role of high-
density lipoprotein and Vitamin D in groups: sham, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), exercise (EX), and PTZ + EX. Seizures were
exercise-induced neuroprotection induced in the PTZ and PTZ + EX groups through intraperitoneal administration of
in epileptic rats. Adv Neuro. PTZ (35 mg/kg) every other day for 1 month. The EX and PTZ + EX groups underwent
2025;4(3):78-87.
doi: 10.36922/an.8347 daily exercise sessions (30 min/session) for 1 month. Serum levels of Vitamin D, HDL,
and LDL were measured, and neuronal damage was assessed in the hippocampus
Received: December 31, 2025 and somatosensory cortex. The PTZ + EX group showed a significant increase in
1st revised: May 10, 2025 serum HDL and Vitamin D levels compared to the PTZ group. Histological analysis
2nd revised: May 16, 2025 revealed a significant increase in neuronal damage in the PTZ group compared to the
sham group. In contrast, both PTZ + EX and EX groups demonstrated a reduction in
Accepted: May 19, 2025 neuronal damage compared to the PTZ group. These findings suggest that HDL and
Published online: June 11, 2025 Vitamin D may contribute to the neuroprotective benefits of exercise. Furthermore,
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). exercise could potentially serve as a complementary strategy to counteract Vitamin
This is an Open-Access article D and HDL deficiencies associated with long-term antiepileptic drug use.
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, Keywords: Exercise; Vitamin D; Lipoproteins; Hippocampus; Somatosensory cortex; Epilepsy
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience 1. Introduction
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Regular physical activity has been widely acknowledged for its extensive health benefits,
affiliations. supporting the optimal function of various bodily systems, including the skeletal,

Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025) 78 doi: 10.36922/an.8347