Modulation of hippocampal ion channel activity by taper-up/off opium tincture treatment in an epileptic rodent model

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal, excessive electrical activity in the brain. In this study, a rat model of epilepsy was established to evaluate behavioral, pathological, and molecular alterations, with a focus on early findings regarding the effects of opium tincture treatment on the hippocampus. Epileptic rats were treated using a taper-up/off protocol of opium tincture, known as the Dezhakam Step-Time (DST) method, at four different dosages. Hippocampal tissues were collected, RNA was extracted, and cDNA synthesis was performed. The expression levels of ion channel–related genes were quantified using real-time PCR. Significant alterations in the expression of ion channel–related genes were observed in epileptic hippocampal tissue compared with normal controls. Treatment with all tested doses of opium tincture modified gene expression patterns, with the most pronounced effects at higher dosages. Notably, genes encoding the GABA-A receptor, voltage-gated sodium channels, and voltage-gated calcium channels showed marked regulation following treatment. These preliminary findings suggest that DST-based opium tincture therapy may restore ion channel activity toward normal levels, thereby reducing neuronal hyperexcitability and promoting a balance between excitation and inhibition in the epileptic brain. Such effects highlight the potential therapeutic role of opium tincture in managing epilepsy through modulation of ion channel pathways.

Dr. Hossein Dezhakam is a researcher and the President of the Khwarizmi Institute of Science and Technology in Qeshm Island, Iran. He has authored more than 12 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Web of Science (SCI), which are available on his Google Scholar profile (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&q=hossein+dezhakam&btnG&utm_source=chatgpt.com). Most recently, he has joined the International Network of Stem Cell Researchers.