Role of glutamate and aspartate in epileptogenesis; contribution of microdialysis studies in animal and man.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
A G Chapman
Publications and source records attributed to A G Chapman.
GYKI 52466 and related 2,3-benzodiazepines as anticonvulsant agents in DBA/2 mice.
The behavioural and anticonvulsant effects of several 1-aryl-3,5-dihydro-4H-2,3-benzodiazepin-4-ones (2,3-BZs) and of 11b-aryl-7,11-dihydro-3-phenyl[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-a][2,3]benz odiazepin-6-ones (2,3-OBZs) were studied after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration in DBA/2 mice, a strain genetically susceptible to sound-induced seizures. The seizures were evoked by means of auditory stimulation (109 dB, 12-16 kHz) in animals placed singly under a hemispheric Perspex dome. The 2,3-benzodiazepines studied after 30 min pretreatment were generally less potent than the related derivative 1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine hydrochloride (GYKI 52466) except 3,5-dihydro-7,8-dimethoxy-1-phenyl-4H-2,3-benzodiazepin-4-one (2,3-BZ-2) and 2,3-BZ-2M (3-methyl derivative of 2,3-BZ-2) which showed comparable activity. Thirty minutes after i.p. administration of 2,3-benzodiazepines, the rank order of potency for anticonvulsant activity against clonus was 2,3-BZ-2 > GYKI 52466 > 2,3-BZ-2M > 2,3-BZ-1 > 2,3-BZ-3, > 2,3-OBZ-1, > 2,3-OBZ-2 2,3-OBZ-3. The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of aniracetam on it own (12.5 - 100 nmol/mouse) had no convulsant activity, but it reversed the anticonvulsant effects of some 2,3-benzodiazepines. In particular, the pharmacological actions of GYKI 52466, 2,3-BZ-2 and 2,3-BZ-2M, which proved to be the most potent 2,3-benzodiazepine derivatives as anticonvulsants, were significantly reduced by an i.c.v. pretreatment with aniracetam (50 nmol/mouse). Concomitant treatment with aniracetam (50 nmol/mouse) shifted to the right the dose-response curves and significantly increased the ED50 values for GYKI 52466, 2,3-BZ-2 and 2,3-BZ-2M. After 30 min pretreatment 2,3-BZ-2 showed a similar potency to GYKI 52466 in antagonizing seizures induced by i.c.v. administration of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), thus suggesting a clear involvement of AMPA receptors in the anticonvulsant activity of these compounds. In addition, 2,3-BZ-2 and 2,3-BZ-2M showed anticonvulsant properties longer lasting than GYKI 52466.
Animals↗
Dual inhibitory action of enadoline (CI977) on release of amino acids in the rat hippocampus.
The effect of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist enadoline (CI977, (5R)-(5 alpha,7 alpha,8 beta)-N-methyl-N-[7-(1-pyrrilidinyl)-1-oxaspiro [4,5]dec-8-yl-4-benzofuranacetamide monohydrochloride), on the release of amino acids was studied in the hippocampus of freely moving rats. K+, 100 mM, or veratrine, 100 microM, were applied for 10 min via the dialysis probe, either alone (control groups) or together with CI977 (after a 10 min pretreatment with CI977 in the perfusion medium). To test the specificity of the response to CI977, nor-binaltorphimine, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, was delivered together with CI977 in two groups of animals. To test the effect of systemic injection, CI977 was given subcutaneously 30 min prior to either stimulus. K(+)-induced release of glutamate and aspartate was significantly reduced by CI977, 2.5 mM; release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was reduced by 250 microM CI977 in the probe. The effect of CI977 on release of glutamate and aspartate, but not of GABA, was reversed by nor-binaltorphimine (45 microM). Systemic treatment with CI977, 1 or 10 mg/kg, did not reduce K(+)-induced release of glutamate. Veratrine-induced release of aspartate and glutamate was significantly inhibited by 25 microM and release of GABA by 250 microM CI977 in the probe, and this effect was not modified by nor-binaltorphimine (58 microM). Systemic injection of CI977 1 mg/kg significantly reduced veratrine-induced release of glutamate. These results indicate that CI977 regulates release of amino acids by two independent mechanisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Amino Acids↗
Anticonvulsant activity of a novel NMDA/glycine site antagonist, MDL 104,653, against kindled and sound-induced seizures.
MDL 104,653 (3-phenyl-4-hydroxy-7-chloro-quinolin-2(1H)-one), acts as an antagonist at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor. MDL 104,653 protects against sound-induced clonic seizures in DBA/2 mice following intracerebroventricular (ED50 = 19.1 nmol, 30 min), intraperitoneal (i.p.; ED50 = 6.1 mumol/kg, 45 min), or oral (ED50 = 23.0 mumol/kg, 2 h) administration. Optimal protection by MDL 104,653 was observed 15-60 min after i.p. administration, and the therapeutic index, as assessed by rotarod performance, was 4.0 at 45 min after i.p. administration. Fully amygdala-kindled motor seizures in rats were significantly reduced at 15, 30 and 60 min, and the duration of the after-discharge was significantly shortened at 30 min after the i.p. administration of 74 mumol/kg MDL 104,653. A lower dose of MDL 104,653 (37 mumol/kg) had no significant effect on either motor seizures or after-discharge duration. The rate of amygdala kindling was also significantly retarded following the daily administration of 56 mumol/kg MDL 104,653 (1 times daily for 6 days; i.p. 30 min before kindling stimulus).
Administration, Oral↗
The gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake inhibitor, tiagabine, is anticonvulsant in two animal models of reflex epilepsy.
The effects of i.p. administration of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake inhibitors R(-)N-(4,4-di(3-methylthien-2-yl)-but-3-enyl) nipecotic acid hydrochloride (tiagabine; molecular weight 412.0), (1-(2-(((diphenylmethylene)-amino)oxy)ethyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-3- pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrochloride (NNC-711; molecular weight 386.9), and (+/-)-nipecotic acid (molecular weight 128.2) are compared with those of carbamazepine (molecular weight 236.3) on sound-induced seizures and locomotor performance in genetically epilepsy-prone (GEP) rats. The ED50 value against clonic seizures (in mumol kg-1 at the time of maximal anticonvulsant effect) for tiagabine was 23 (0.5 h), and for NNC-711 was 72 (1 h), and for carbamazepine was 98 (2 h). (+/-)-Nipecotic acid (0.4-15.6 mmol kg-1) was not anticonvulsant. High doses of NNC-711 (207-310 mumol kg-1) and of (+/-)-nipecotic acid (39-78 mmol kg-1) induced ataxia and myoclonic seizures 0.25-1 h. Tiagabine and carbamazepine did not induce myoclonic seizures and had similar therapeutic indices (locomotor deficit ED50/anticonvulsant ED50) ranging from 0.4 to 1.9. In Papio papio, we observed a reduction in photically induced myoclonic seizures with tiagabine (2.4 mumol kg-1 i.v.) accompanied with neurological impairment. Tiagabine has comparable anticonvulsant action to carbamazepine in rats and has anticonvulsant effects in non-human primates supporting the potential use of inhibitors of GABA uptake as therapy for epilepsy.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Synthesis, NMDA receptor antagonist activity, and anticonvulsant action of 1-aminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid derivatives.
A range of cis- and trans-3-substituted 1-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids has been synthesized and evaluated for antagonism at excitatory amino acid receptor sites and for anticonvulsant activity. Potent and selective antagonist activity at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor sites in neonatal rat motoneurones was shown by compounds in which the 3-substituent was, or contained, a 2'-carboxyethyl or 2'-phosphonoethyl moiety. Substances 4b, 24, 35, and 40 were more potent than the standard NMDA receptor antagonist, D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate (D-AP5) as NMDA antagonists in this preparation, and about equipotent with [3-(+/-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-1-propyl]phosphonate (CPP). Anticonvulsant activity, as assessed following intracerebroventricular injection into audiogenic DBA/2 mice, generally paralleled NMDA receptor antagonist activity.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
[Sodium valproate--current status of pharmacological research].
Valproic acid has a wider antiepileptic spectrum than any other antiepileptic drug (AED) in clinical use. Valproate administration causes many neurochemical and neurophysiological alterations, including increased GABA levels, modified GABA turnover and release, decreased gamma-hydroxybutyrate synthesis and release, increased serotonin and dopamine release, decreased aspartate levels, reduction of repetitive firing of neurons, and possibly a reduction in calcium (T) currents; however, none of these effects have consistently and unequivocally been linked to the antiepileptic action of valproate.
Animals↗
Differential expression of the astrocytic enzymes 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid oxygenase, kynurenine aminotransferase and glutamine synthetase in seizure-prone and non-epileptic mice.
Previous investigations in seizure-prone mice have suggested that an abnormally elevated production of the astrocyte-derived neuroexcitant, quinolinic acid (QUIN), plays a role in seizure susceptibility. In order to evaluate further the role of QUIN metabolism in genetic murine seizure models, the activities of its biosynthetic enzyme 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid oxygenase (3HAO), and of two other astrocytic enzymes, kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) and glutamine synthetase (GS), were measured in the brains of seizure-prone EL and DBA/2 mice and two non-epileptic strains (BALB/c and Swiss-Webster). 3HAO activity was found to be markedly higher in both EL and DBA/2 mice than in the non-epileptic strains in all brain regions examined. The activity of 3HAO was not modified by the tossing procedure employed to promote seizures in EL mice. While some strain differences were noted in the activities of KAT and GS, these enzymes did not distinguish seizure-prone from the non-epileptic mice. In order to delineate better the relationship between glial activation and 3HAO, KAT and GS, further studies were performed in the ibotenate-lesioned hippocampus. In mice (but not in rats), the activity of 3HAO was selectively increased in gliotic tissue. These data demonstrate substantial species and strain differences in astroglial enzymes and in their response to brain injury. The observation of widespread abnormally high 3HAO activity in two distinct seizure-prone mouse strains strengthens the hypothesis that enhanced production of QUIN contributes to seizure susceptibility in mice.
3-Hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-Dioxygenase↗
Contrasting effects of D- and L-(E)-4-(3-phosphono-2-propenyl)piperazine-2-carboxylic acid as anticonvulsants and as inhibitors of potassium-evoked increases in hippocampal extracellular glutamate and aspartate levels in freely moving rats.
Microdialysis experiments performed in the dorsal hippocampus of freely moving rats showed that L-(E)-4-(3-phosphono-2-propenyl)piperazine-2-carboxylic acid (L-CPPene) is 10 times as potent as D-CPPene in inhibiting potassium-induced increases in extracellular levels of aspartate and glutamate. In control experiments, two 100 mM KCl stimuli (S1 and S2) applied for 10 min each (separated by a 40-min recovery period) produced substantial (300-500%) increases in the extracellular levels of aspartate, glutamate, taurine, and GABA and a 50% decrease in the glutamine level. S2/S1 ratios in the control groups were 0.67 (aspartate), 0.78 (glutamate), 0.83 (GABA), and 0.85 (taurine). In the experimental groups, D- or L-CPPene was applied via the probe during the second potassium stimulus (S2). L-CPPene (25 or 250 microM) produced selective suppression of potassium-induced increases of extracellular glutamate (S2/S1 ratio: 0.25) and aspartate (S2/S1 ratio: 0.20) levels, whereas 250 microM D-CPPene was required to inhibit the extracellular aspartate and glutamate increases. Neither enantiomer of CPPene affected the potassium-induced increases of GABA and taurine or the decrease in extracellular glutamine concentration. An additional study comparing the anticonvulsant potencies of D- and L-CPPene was performed using audiogenic DBA/2 mice. The anticonvulsant potency of D-CPPene, as assessed against sound-induced seizures in DBA/2 mice, was an order of magnitude higher than that of L-CPPene [ED50 clonic phase (intraperitoneal, 45 min): 1.64 mumol/kg and 16.8 mumol/kg, respectively]. We attribute the anticonvulsant action of D-CPPene to its antagonist action at the NMDA receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
Effect of the non-NMDA receptor antagonist GYKI 52466 on the microdialysate and tissue concentrations of amino acids following transient forebrain ischaemia.
The effect of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) receptor antagonist 1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine hydrochloride (GYKI 52466) on ischaemia-induced changes in the microdialysate and tissue concentrations of glutamate, aspartate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied in rats. Twenty minutes of four-vessel occlusion resulted in a transient increase in microdialysate levels of glutamate, aspartate, and GABA in striatum, cortex, and hippocampus. Administration of GYKI 52466 (10 mg/kg bolus + 10 mg/kg/60 min intravenously starting 20 min before onset of ischaemia) inhibited ischaemia-induced increases in microdialysate glutamate and GABA in striatum without affecting the increases in hippocampus or cortex. Twenty minutes of four-vessel occlusion resulted in immediate small decreases and larger delayed (72 h) decreases in tissue levels of glutamate and aspartate. Transient increases in tissue levels of GABA were shown in all three structures at the end of the ischaemic period. At 72 h, after the ischaemic period, significantly reduced GABA levels were observed in striatum and hippocampus. GYKI 52466, given under identical conditions as above, augmented the ischaemia-induced decrease in striatal tissue levels of glutamate and aspartate, without significantly affecting the decreases in hippocampus and cortex. Twenty minutes of ischaemia resulted in a large increase in microdialysate dopamine in striatum. GYKI 52466 failed to inhibit this increase. Kainic acid (500 microM infused through the probe for 20 min) caused increases in microdialysate glutamate and aspartate in the striatum. GYKI 52466 (10 mg/kg bolus + 10 mg/kg/60 min) completely inhibited the kainic acid-induced glutamate release. In conclusion, the action of the non-NMDA antagonist, GYKI 52466, in the striatum is different from that in the cortex and hippocampus. The inhibition by GYKI 52466 of ischaemia-induced and kainate-induced increases in microdialysate glutamate concentration in the striatum may be related to the neuroprotection provided by GYKI 52466 in this region.
Amino Acids↗
Aniracetam reverses the anticonvulsant action of NBQX and GYKI 52466 in DBA/2 mice.
Aniracetam (1-p-anisoyl-2-pyrrolidinone) selectively reverses the anticonvulsant activities of the non-NMDA receptor antagonists, GYKI 52466 (1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3- benzodiazepine.HCl) and, to a lesser extent, NBQX (2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(F)quinoxaline), without affecting the anticonvulsant activity of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, D(-)-CPPene, in DBA/2 mice. Pretreatment with aniracetam (50 nmol i.c.v., 15 min before drugs) increases the ED50 values (mumol/kg i.p., 15 min) for GYKI 52466-induced protection against sound-induced clonic seizures in DBA/2 mice 7 fold, from 20.1 (11.9-33.9) to 142 (91.7-219), and for NBQX-induced protection 2 fold, from 39.7 (33.8-46.7) to 85.6 (63.9-115), respectively. Aniracetam on its own (12.5-100 nmol i.c.v.) has no convulsant activity, but reverses the anticonvulsant effect of GYKI 52466 (60 mumol/kg i.p., 15 min) in a dose-dependent manner.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Effect of ischaemia and reperfusion on the extra- and intracellular distribution of glutamate, glutamine, aspartate and GABA in the rat hippocampus, with a note on the effect of the sodium channel blocker BW1003C87.
The redistribution of neurotransmitter amino acids resulting from 20 min of ischaemia was studied in the rat hippocampus by quantitative, electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and by in vivo microdialysis. Changes in the distribution of glutamate, glutamine, aspartate and GABA in various cell compartments of CA1 were analysed immediately after ischaemia or after 60 min of reperfusion, by incubating ultrathin sections with antisera raised against protein glutaraldehyde conjugates of the respective amino acids and subsequently with a secondary antibody coupled to colloidal gold particles. Transverse microdialysis probes coupled with HPLC and implanted in the same animals were used to determine the extracellular concentration of amino acids in the left hippocampus and to apply a drug (BW1003C87) believed to modify the extracellular release of amino acids induced by ischaemia. Forebrain ischaemia was induced by temporary occlusion of the common carotid arteries in rats with permanently occluded vertebral arteries. The extracellular concentrations of glutamate, aspartate and GABA increased markedly during ischaemia, but returned rapidly to normal during reperfusion. BW1003C87 (250 microM, in the dialysis fluid) did not modify the increase in extracellular concentration of amino acids during ischaemia. Glutamate-like immunoreactivity was reduced in pyramidal cell somata both immediately after ischaemia and after 60 min of reperfusion. This reduction appeared to be somewhat less pronounced for cells in the left hemisphere (perfused with BW1003C87) than in the contralateral hemisphere. Ischaemia caused no consistent changes in terminals. The ratio between the intracellular levels of glutamate and glutamine was assessed by double-labelling immunocytochemistry, using two different gold particle sizes. The glutamate-glutamine ratio in glial cells was greatly increased after ischaemia, but recovered to a normal level within 1 h of reperfusion. Aspartate-like immunoreactivity was substantially reduced in pyramidal cell somata both immediately and 60 min after ischaemia, while profiles that were immunopositive for GABA in control brains showed increased GABA immunolabelling. These results suggest that postsynaptic neuronal elements as well as glial cells contribute to the extracellular overflow of excitatory amino acids during an ischaemic event: post-synaptic elements by leaking or releasing glutamate and aspartate, and glial cells by losing their ability to convert glutamate to glutamine effectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Animals↗
Extracellular amino acid levels in hippocampus during pilocarpine-induced seizures.
Extracellular levels of aspartate, glutamate and glutamine were monitored by microdialysis in the dorsal hippocampus of freely moving rats following the administration of a convulsant dose of pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, i.p.). Rats were either pretreated with the glutamate uptake inhibitor, 1-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC, 1 mM in the perfusion medium, -25 min), or received pilocarpine directly. All rats injected with pilocarpine (with or without PDC pretreatment) developed limbic seizures (latency 15.4 +/- 2.4 min). Without PDC pretreatment there were no significant changes in extracellular levels of aspartate, glutamate and glutamine following pilocarpine administration until the onset of limbic seizures when glutamine levels fell by 35%. Following PDC pretreatment there were large and sustained increases in extracellular hippocampal aspartate (250%) and glutamate (55%) levels, but no significant change in the glutamine level. When pilocarpine was administered to this group of rats, there were further selective, significant, transient increases in the extracellular levels of aspartate (31%) and glutamate (18%) which preceded the onset of seizures. Aspartate and glutamate levels were not significantly increased (relative to PDC controls) during seizures. The conditions for pilocarpine-induced increases in aspartate and glutamate release were established in parallel groups of anaesthetised rats where pilocarpine was administered via a microdialysis probe in the dorsal hippocampus. Following the infusion of 10 mM pilocarpine there were large and rapid increases in the levels of aspartate (143%) and glutamate (179%), which were completely abolished by the absence of calcium in the perfusion medium, or by the presence of atropine (20 mM) or tetrodotoxin (1 microM).
Amino Acids↗
Acute and chronic anticonvulsant effects of D(-)CPPene in genetically epilepsy-prone rats.
Acute administration (0.4-12 mumol/kg, i.p.) of the NMDA antagonist D(-)CPPene (3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propenyl-1-phosphonic acid; molecular weight = 250.2) dose-dependently reduced the incidence of sound-induced clonic seizures in genetically epilepsy-prone (GEP) rats. The ED50 value against clonic seizure at +1 h was 2.6 (2.2-3.2) and at +4 h was 1.7 (1.3-2.3) mumol/kg (i.p.). Twelve hours after chronic administration of an anticonvulsant dose of D(-)CPPene (4 mumol/kg, i.p., twice daily at 09.00 and 21.00 h, for 14 days), repeat administration of D(-)CPPene (1.2-12 mumol/kg, i.p.) gave ED50 values against clonic seizure at +1 h of 3.4 (2.5-4.8) mumol/kg and at +4 h of 2.8 (2.0-3.9) mumol/kg (i.p.). There was no significant difference observed between ED50 values for these acute and chronic groups. The duration of the anticonvulsant effect observed between +1 h and +8 h after D(-)CPPene (0.4-12 mumol/kg, i.p.) was similar in the acute and chronic groups. The ED50 values for D(-)CPPene-induced impairment of locomotor performance (using a rotarod) at +3 h were 6.8 (4.4-10.4) and 6.4 (4.1-10.1) mumol/kg (i.p.) for the acute and chronic groups respectively. At +7 h after D(-)CPPene administration the ED50 value for locomotor impairment was 19.5 (10.6-36.0) mumol/kg (i.p.) in the acute group. In this study there is no evidence of tolerance to the anticonvulsant effects and little evidence of tolerance to the adverse effects (ataxia) of D(-)CPPene in GEPRs.
Animals↗
Excitatory amino acid antagonists, lamotrigine and BW 1003C87 as anticonvulsants in the genetically epilepsy-prone rat.
Sound-induced seizures in genetically epilepsy-prone rats were used to compare the anticonvulsant effect of phenytoin and diazepam with compounds which decrease glutamatergic neurotransmission including excitatory amino acid antagonists acting at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors: D(-)CPPene, CGP 37849 and MK 801 or at the glycine/NMDA site: ACPC (1-aminocyclopropane-dicarboxylic acid) (partial agonist) or non-NMDA receptors: NBQX (2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo[f]-quinoxaline.Li) and GYKI 52466 (1-(aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylene-dioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepin e.HCl) or acting at sodium channels to decrease glutamate release: lamotrigine and BW 1003C87 (5(2,3,5-trichlorophenyl)-2,4-diaminopyrimidine ethane sulphonate). ED50 values against clonic seizures (in mumol/kg at the time of peak anticonvulsant effect) were: phenytoin 30.5 (2 h), diazepam 0.5 (0.5 h), MK 801 0.01 (4 h), D(-)CPPene 1.9 (4 h), CGP 37849 2 (1 h), GYKI 52466 24 (0.25 h), NBQX 40 (0.5 h), ACPC 1053 (0.5 h), BW 1003C87 2.2 (1 h), lamotrigine 4.8 (4 h). BW 1003C87, lamotrigine, MK 801, phenytoin, diazepam and CGP 37849 had the most favourable therapeutic indices (rotarod locomotor deficit ED50/anticonvulsant ED50).
2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗
Excitatory amino acid antagonists and epilepsy.
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Amino Acids↗
Electrolytic lesions of the locus coeruleus or 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the medial forebrain bundle protect against excitotoxic damage in rat hippocampus.
Unilateral lesioning of the rat locus coeruleus by an electric current (0.3 mA/10 s) reduces the ipsilateral hippocampal tissue content of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) by 80% and 60% respectively, and protects against the excitotoxic action of bilateral kainate injections (1.1 nmol/microliters) in the hippocampus. On the ipsilateral side hippocampal CA1, CA2 and DG cells were protected; lesser protection of CA1 cells was seen on the contralateral side. The unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (8.8 micrograms/2 microliters/5 min) into the medial forebrain bundle abolishes the increase in extracellular NA concentration induced by kainate in the ipsilateral hippocampus without altering the low extracellular DA levels. This medial forebrain bundle lesion protects (on the ipsilateral side) against kainate toxicity (500 microM through the probe for 20 min) in the hippocampus (CA1, CA2 and DG cells). The noradrenergic innervation of the hippocampus apparently potentiates the excitotoxic effect of focal injection of kainate.
Animals↗
The effects of AMPA receptor antagonists on kindled seizures and on reflex epilepsy in rodents and primates.
Two potent glutamate antagonists, NBQX and GYKI 52466, that act selectively on non-NMDA receptors, have been tested for anticonvulsant activity in 3 models of reflex epilepsy (sound-induced seizures in DBA/2 mice and in genetically epilepsy-prone rats and photically-induced myoclonus in Papio papio) and in amygdala kindled rats. Both compounds potently but transiently suppress reflexly-induced epileptic responses. GYKI 52466 also reduces behavioral seizures and afterdischarge duration in amygdala kindled rats, but with a lower potency than it suppresses reflex epilepsy. These data are similar to earlier results with antagonists acting selectively on NMDA receptors; they do not support a specific involvement of enhanced AMPA receptor sensitivity as a major factor in the expression of kindled seizures.
Acoustic Stimulation↗