We explored the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on epilepsy, particularly how it influences seizures and depression-like behavior in mice subjected to pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced seizures. Our study showed that administering EPA significantly reduced both seizure activity and depressive symptoms, indicating its potential as an anticonvulsant agent.
In our tests, we found that EPA outperformed docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in these areas. We looked deeper to understand why EPA was more effective, discovering that it helps shift microglial cells toward a protective M2 state while inhibiting the harmful M1 state. This shift is linked to lower iron levels in the brain, likely due to EPA’s stronger activation of a protective pathway known as Nrf2.
Additionally, we noticed both EPA and DHA can inhibit inflammation related to a specific cellular process called NLRP3 inflammasome activation, but they do this in different ways. This means that while both fatty acids have benefits, EPA may provide a stronger effect due to its unique mechanisms.
Overall, our findings suggest that both EPA and DHA can relieve seizure and depression-like behaviors, but EPA stands out in effectiveness and its underlying functions.