Electroshock raises pentylenetetrazol threshold: possible role of inosine

Endogenous anticonvulsant substances

Epileptic seizures will normally arrest abruptly and spontaneously, and the brain will remain refractory to further seizures for some time thereafter. This paper reviews the possible mechanisms underlying this seizure arrest and refractoriness. The data suggests that neuronal fatigue is not involved in either of these processes, whereas the role of ions and excitatory systems are unclear. Rather, seizure arrest and refractoriness may come about by the seizure-induced release and/or activity of multiple endogenous anticonvulsant substances. The spontaneous arrest of the seizure may involve the purine adenosine, in addition to other unknown mechanisms. Seizure refractoriness involves multiple systems, the most important of which, on the available evidence, are prostaglandins and opioid peptides and possibly benzodiazepine systems, although other neuropeptides and the purines may also be involved. The implications of these conclusions to anti-epileptic drug development and status epilepticus are discussed.

Effect of inosine on seizures induced with pentylenetetrazole, bicuculline, or picrotoxin

The effect in mice of inosine administered subcutaneously on the threshold of seizures induced with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), bicuculline, and picrotoxin was studied, and brain inosine levels were measured. Following inosine, 1,000 mg/kg, the threshold to PTZ was increased at 10-30 min after injection as determined by a tail vein infusion method. Bicuculline and picrotoxin thresholds were significantly elevated only at 5 min. The time to the first myoclonic jerk after intraperitoneal administration of each of these convulsants was significantly prolonged by the lowest dose of inosine tested (250 mg/kg for PTZ, 100 mg/kg for bicuculline, and 500 mg/kg for picrotoxin). Inosine was given subcutaneously 10 min before the convulsant. The mean control brain inosine concentration was 2.9 microM. After subcutaneous inosine, 1,000, 500, and 250 mg/kg, the highest levels reached were 14.4, 7.9, and 4.3 microM, respectively. It is concluded that micromolar concentrations of inosine in brain are antiepileptic.

Seizure thresholds and their postictal changes in audiogenic seizure (AGS)-susceptible rats

The convulsive thresholds for bicuculline and electroshock seizures were studied in audiogenic seizure (AGS)-susceptible and control rats. Electroshock seizure thresholds, determined as the amperage necessary to cause tonic extension of the hindlegs in 50% of the rats (CC50 = convulsive current fifty) were markedly lowered in rats of two stocks, bred for AGS susceptibility. During the clonic phase of electroshock seizure the bicuculline threshold was slightly lowered but started to rise after the convulsion had ceased. After 5 min, the threshold was significantly elevated and the maximal increase was reached in 15 min. In control rats the level normalized curvilinearly within an hour, but in AGS rats it decreased more slowly and was still elevated after 90 min. After an audiogenic seizure, the threshold for bicuculline-induced seizures in AGS rats also rose significantly but declined rapidly after having reached a maximum at 15 min. This rise in seizure threshold for bicuculline might indicate a postictal change in GABAergic transmission.