Effects of ketogenic diet on neurobehavioral damages and expression of ZIP7 in cerebral cortex of rat following recurrent neonatal seizures

Objective To explore the intervention effect of ketogenic diet (KD) on neurobehavioral damages after flurothyl-induced neonatal recurrent seizures in rats and on the expression of ZIP7. Methods Postnatal day 8 SD rats (n=24) were divided into four groups randomly: normal group (NS+ ND group), non-seizure and ketogenic diet group (NS+ KD group), seizure and normal diet group (RS+ ND group), seizure and ketogenic diet group (RS+ KD group), n=6 in each group. At postnatal day 31, the grip-strength test and open field test were monitored. At postnatal day 32, rats were sacrificed and the expression of ZIP7 protein level in cerebral cortex was detected with Western blot. Results (1) The grip-strength test: compared with NS+ ND group ((32.67±2.42) s), the time needed to hold on glass bar in RS+ ND group ((19.17±2.48) s) was shorter significantly (P<0.05). Compared with RS+ ND group, the time needed to hold on glass bar in RS+ KD group ((26.25±2.87) s) was significantly longer (P<0.05). (2) Open field test: compared with NS+ ND group ((2.00±0.63) times), the times of grooming in RS+ ND group ((4.00±0.63) times) were more (P<0.05). Compared with RS+ ND group, the times of grooming in the RS+ KD group ((2.17±0.75) times) were fewer (P<0.05). (3)Western blot: compared with NS+ ND group, the level of ZIP7 of the RS+ ND group in cerebral cortex were lower (P<0.05). Compared with RS+ ND group, the level of ZIP7 of the RS+ KD group in cerebral cortex were higher (P<0.05). Conclusion Neonatal recurrent seizures may damage neurobehavior, and the neuroprotective effects of ketogenic diet may be associated with the increasing of ZIP7 in cerebral cortex. Key words: Ketogenic diet; Neonatal seizure; Neurobehavior; ZIP7