Animal Models of Seizures and Epilepsy: Past,Present, and Future Role for the Discovery of Antiseizure Drugs

The identification of potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of epilepsy requires the use of seizure models. Except for some early treatments, including bromides and phenobarbital, the antiseizure activity of all clinically used drugs was, for the most part, defined by acute seizure models in rodents using the maximal electroshock and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole seizure tests and the electrically kindled rat. Unfortunately, the clinical evidence to date would suggest that none of these models, albeit useful, are likely to identify those therapeutics that will effectively manage patients with drug resistant seizures. Over the last 30 years, a number of animal models have been developed that display varying degrees of pharmacoresistance, such as the phenytoin- or lamotrigine-resistant kindled rat, the 6-Hz mouse model of partial seizures, the intrahippocampal kainate model in mice, or rats in which spontaneous recurrent seizures develops after inducing status epilepticus by chemical or electrical stimulation. As such, these models can be used to study mechanisms of drug resistance and may provide a unique opportunity for identifying a truly novel antiseizure drug (ASD), but thus far clinical evidence for this hope is lacking. Although animal models of drug resistant seizures are now included in ASD discovery approaches such as the ETSP (epilepsy therapy screening program), it is important to note that no single model has been validated for use to identify potential compounds for as yet drug resistant seizures, but rather a battery of such models should be employed, thus enhancing the sensitivity to discover novel, highly effective ASDs. The present review describes the previous and current approaches used in the search for new ASDs and offers some insight into future directions incorporating new and emerging animal models of therapy resistance.     

Pharmacological inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase attenuates the development of seizures in mice

The present study has been designed to pharmacologically expound the significance of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the pathophysiological progression of seizures using mouse models of chemically induced kindled epilepsy and status epilepticus induced spontaneous recurrent seizures. Pentylenetetrazole (40 mg kg⁻¹) (PTZ) administration every second day for a period of 15 days was used to elicit kindled seizure activity in mice. Severity of kindled seizures was assessed in terms of a composite kindled seizure severity score (KSSS). Pilocarpine (100 mg kg⁻¹) was injected every 20 min until the onset of status epilepticus. A spontaneous recurrent seizure severity score (SRSSS) was recorded as a measure of quantitative assessment of the progressive development of spontaneous recurrent seizures induced after pilocarpine status epilepticus. Sub-acute PTZ administration induced the development of severe form of kindled seizures in mice. Further, pharmacological status epilepticus elicited a progressive evolution of spontaneous recurrent seizures in the animals. However, treatment of aminoguanidine, a relatively selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, markedly and dose dependently suppressed the development of both PTZ induced kindled seizures as well as pilocarpine induced spontaneous recurrent seizures. Therefore inducible nitric oxide synthase may be implicated in the development of seizures.     

Anticonvulsant effects of magnesium sulfate in hippocampal-kindled rats

The objective of the present study was to determine whether magnesium sulfate has anticonvulsant actions in the hippocampal-kindled rat model of epilepsy. Fully kindled rats received acute intraperitoneal injections of magnesium sulfate (270 mg/kg), phenytoin (20 mg/kg) or saline in random order. Electrical seizure duration, behavioral seizure stage and duration of postictal EEG depression were examined 15, 30 and 60 min after injection. In an additional group of rats, kindled seizures were measured before and after chronic (2 h) intraperitoneal injections of magnesium sulfate versus saline. There was a significant decrease in electrical seizure duration (p<0.01) and behavioral seizure stage (p<0.01) with acute magnesium sulfate injections compared to saline injections. Phenytoin had no statistically significant effects on hippocampal-kindled seizures. Chronic magnesium sulfate treatment significantly reduced behavioral seizure stage at 2, 24, and 48 h postinjection (p<0.05), but did not affect seizure duration. There was a significant time by treatment effect for magnesium sulfate on postictal EEG depression (p<0.01). We conclude that in this model of hippocampal epilepsy-induced (kindled) rats, magnesium sulfate has significant anticonvulsant effects.     

Effect of Liraglutide on Corneal Kindling Epilepsy Induced Depression and Cognitive Impairment in Mice

GLP-1 play important role in neuroprotection and GLP-1 receptor deficit mice showed decreased seizure threshold and increased cognitive impairment. Therefore, study was premeditated to investigate the effect of liraglutide (GLP-1 analogue) on cornel kindling epilepsy induced co-morbidities in mice. Corneal kindling was induced by electrical stimulation (6 mA, 50 Hz, 3 s); twice daily for 13 days. Liraglutide (75 and 150 µg/kg) and phenytoin (20 mg/kg) were administered in corneal kindled groups. On day 14, elevated plus maze, passive shock avoidance paradigms were performed, and on day 15, retention was taken. On day 16 tail suspension test were performed. On 20th day challenge test was performed with same electrical stimulation and retention was observed on elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm. Animal were sacrificed on 21st day for biochemical (LPO, GSH, and nitrite) and neurochemical (GABA, glutamate, DA, NE, 5-HT and their metabolites) estimation. Electrical stimulation by corneal electrode for 13 days developed generalized clonic seizures, increased cognitive impairment, oxidative stress and neurochemical alteration in mice brain. Co-treatment with liraglutide (75 and 150 μg/kg) significantly prevented the seizure severity, restored behavioural activity, oxidative stress and restored the altered level of neurotransmitters observed in corneal kindled mouse.

     

A Transient Upregulation of Glutamine Synthetase in the Dentate Gyrus Is Involved in Epileptogenesis Induced by Amygdala Kindling in the Rat

Reduction of glutamine synthetase (GS) function is closely related to established epilepsy, but little is known regarding its role in epileptogenesis. The present study aimed to elucidate the functional changes of GS in the brain and its involvement in epileptogenesis using the amygdala kindling model of epilepsy induced by daily electrical stimulation of basolateral amygdala in rats. Both expression and activity of GS in the ipsilateral dentate gyrus (DG) were upregulated when kindled seizures progressed to stage 4. A single dose of L-methionine sulfoximine (MSO, in 2 µl), a selective GS inhibitor, was administered into the ipsilateral DG on the third day following the first stage 3 seizure (just before GS was upregulated). It was found that low doses of MSO (5 or 10 µg) significantly and dose-dependently reduced the severity of and susceptibility to evoked seizures, whereas MSO at a high dose (20 µg) aggravated kindled seizures. In animals that seizure acquisition had been successfully suppressed with 10 µg MSO, GS upregulation reoccurred when seizures re-progressed to stage 4 and re-administration of 10 µg MSO consistently reduced the seizures. GLN at a dose of 1.5 µg abolished the alleviative effect of 10 µg MSO and deleterious effect of 20 µg MSO on kindled seizures. Moreover, appropriate artificial microRNA interference (1 and 1.5×10⁶ TU/2 µl) of GS expression in the ipsilateral DG also inhibited seizure progression. In addition, a transient increase of GS expression and activity in the cortex was also observed during epileptogenesis evoked by pentylenetetrazole kindling. These results strongly suggest that a transient and region-specific upregulation of GS function occurs when epilepsy develops into a certain stage and eventually promotes the process of epileptogenesis. Inhibition of GS to an adequate degree and at an appropriate timing may be a potential therapeutic approach to interrupting epileptogenesis.     

Monophosphoryl Lipid A and Pam3Cys Prevent the Increase in Seizure Susceptibility and Epileptogenesis in Rats Undergoing Traumatic Brain Injury

Five percent of all epilepsy cases are attributed to traumatic brain injury (TBI), which are known as post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Finding preventive strategies for PTE is valuable. Remarkable feature of TBI is activation of microglia and subsequent neuroinflammation, which provokes epileptogenesis. The toll-like receptor agonists monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and tri-palmitoyl-S-glyceryl-cysteine (Pam3Cys) are safe, well-tolerated and effective adjuvants existing in prophylactic human vaccines. We examined the impact of early injection of MPL and Pam3Cys to rats, on the rate of kindled seizures acquisition following TBI. Rats received a single dose (1 µg/rat) of MPL or Pam3Cys through intracerebroventricular injection. 5 days later, trauma was exerted to temporo-parietal cortex of rats by controlled cortical impact device. After 24 h, traumatic rats underwent amygdala kindling. Brain level of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was also measured in traumatic rats by immunoblotting. Compared to non-traumatic (sham-operated) rats, traumatic rats showed three times lower seizure threshold (133?±?5 µA vs. 416.3?±?16 µA, p?<?0.001); about three times less number of stimuli to become kindled (5?±?1 vs. 14?±?2, p?<?0.01); longer duration of kindled seizure parameters including entire seizure behavior, generalized seizures, and afterdischarges (p?<?0.001); and a two times increase in the TNF-α level. MPL and Pam3Cys did not change kindling rate and the seizure parameters in sham-operated rats. The MPL- and Pam3Cys-pretreated traumatic rats displayed seizure threshold, speed of kindling, and duration of kindled seizure parameters, similar to the non-traumatic rats. Pretreatment by MPL and Pam3Cys prevented the increase in TNF-α level by trauma. Given that MPL and Pam3Cys currently have clinical use as well-tolerated vaccines with reliable safety, they have the potential to be used in prevention of PTE.     

The development of kindled seizures is accelerated in the genetically epilepsy-prone rat

The kindling phenomenon was examined in genetically epilepsy-prone (GEPR) and non-epileptic control Sprague-Dawley rats. Kindling stimulations were administered three times a day until each rat had exhibited three Class 5 kindled motor seizures. The mean total number of kindling stimulations required for each experimental group to exhibit three motor seizures of each motor seizure class was determined. The results indicated that the early stage of kindling development was accelerated significantly in both the GEPR-3 and GEPR-9 rats, compared to non-epileptic control rats. Later stages of kindling development were accelerated in GEPR-9 but not GEPR-3 rats. Thus a differential acceleration of kindling development was exhibited by GEPR-3 and GEPR-9 rats. The results suggest the possibility that some brain region(s) involved in the early stages of kindling development may be hyperexcitable in both GEPR-3 and GEPR-9 rats. Other brain region(s) involved with the later stages of kindling development may be more excitable in GEPR-9 rats. These putative alterations may, in part, contribute to the seizure prone state of GEPR rats and the differential seizure responses of GEPR-3 and GEPR-9 rats.     

Modulation of leukotriene D4 attenuates the development of seizures in mice

The present study has been designed to pharmacologically investigate the effect of Montelukast sodium, a leukotriene D₄ receptor antagonist, and 1,2,3,4, tetrahydroisoquinoline, a leukotriene D₄ synthetic pathway inhibitor, on the pathophysiological progression of seizures using mouse models of kindled epilepsy and status epilepticus induced spontaneous recurrent seizures. Pentylenetetrazole (40 mg kg⁻¹) (PTZ) administration every second day for a period of 15 d was used to elicit chemically induced kindled seizure activity in mice. In a separate set of groups, fifty consecutive electroshocks were delivered to mice using corneal electrodes with continuously increasing intensity with an inter-shock interval of 40 s. Severity of kindled seizures was assessed in terms of a composite kindled seizure severity score (KSSS). Pilocarpine (100 mg kg⁻¹) was injected every twenty minutes until the onset of status epilepticus. A spontaneous recurrent seizure severity score (SRSSS) was recorded as a measure of quantitative assessment of the progressive development of spontaneous recurrent seizures induced after pilocarpine status epilepticus. Sub-acute PTZ administration and electroshock induced the development of severe form of kindled seizures in mice. Severity of kindled seizures was assessed in terms of a composite kindled seizure severity score. Further, pharmacological status epilepticus elicited a progressive evolution of spontaneous recurrent seizures in the animals. However, Montelukast sodium, a leukotriene D₄ receptor antagonist, as well as 1,2,3,4, tetrahydroisoquinoline, a leukotriene D₄ synthetic pathway inhibitor, markedly and dose dependently suppressed the development of kindled seizures as well as pilocarpine induced spontaneous recurrent seizures. Therefore, leukotriene D₄ may be implicated in the pathogenesis of seizures.     

Involvement of nitric oxide in pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling in rats

We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling in rats. Seizures were induced by single administration of PTZ, which was associated with an increase in levels of NO metabolites (NOx) in the hippocampus. Pretreatment with a neuronal NO synthase inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), diminished the PTZ-induced increase in NOx levels without affecting the seizure intensity. Repeated administration of PTZ produced a gradual increase in the seizure intensity, leading to the development of kindling. In the kindled rats, PTZ at a dose of 40 mg/kg increased NOx levels in the hippocampus, whereas it had no effect in control animals. Cotreatment of 7-NI with PTZ blocked the development of kindling and attenuated the PTZ-induced increase in NOx levels. A significant increase in BDNF levels was observed in the hippocampus of the kindled rats, which returned to the control levels following seizures induced by PTZ. 7-NI reduced the hippocampal BDNF levels in control rats and suppressed the increase of BDNF levels in the kindled rats. Our findings suggest that NO plays a role in the development of PTZ-induced kindling and that BDNF may contribute to the NO-dependent plastic changes in neuronal excitability.     

Anticonvulsant effect of A1 but not A2A adenosine receptors of piriform cortex in amygdala-kindled rats

In this study, the effect of A1 and A2A adenosine receptor activity of the piriform cortex (PC) on amygdala-kindled seizures was investigated in rats. Animals were kindled by daily electrical stimulation of the amygdala. In fully kindled rats, N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA, a selective A1 agonist), 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (CPT, a selective A1 antagonist), CGS21,680 hydrochloride (CGS, a selective A2A agonist), and ZM241,385 (ZM, a selective A2A antagonist) were microinjected bilaterally into the PC. Rats were stimulated 5 min post-drug microinjection and seizure parameters were measured. Results showed that intra-PC CHA (10 and 100 micromol/L) decreased the duration of both afterdischarge and stage 5 seizure and significantly increased the latency to stage 4 seizure. Intra-PC CPT increased afterdischarge and stage 5 seizure duration at the dose of 20 micromol/L. The anticonvulsant effect of CHA (100 micromol/L) was eliminated by CPT (10 micromol/L) pretreatment. On the other hand, neither intra-PC CGS nor ZM had a significant effect on kindled seizures. These results suggest that activity of A1, but not A2A, receptors of the PC have anticonvulsant effects on kindled seizures elicited from electrical stimulation of the amygdala.     

Amygdala kindled seizure stage is related to altered benzodiazepine binding site density

Benzodiazepine receptor binding was examined in rats at 3 stages of amygdaloid kindling (i.e., initial afterdischarge, Stage 3 and Stage 5) immediately or 24 hr after seizure. 3H-diazepam binding site density (Bmax) was significantly increased 24 hr after Stage 3 and Stage 5 kindled seizures in the hippocampus but not in the amygdala. There were no significant differences in the dissociation constants (KD) between kindled and control rats at any time point examined for either brain region. These results demonstrate that changes in benzodiazepine binding are observed with partial kindled seizures (i.e., Stage 3), indicating that generalized seizures are not prerequisite to increased benzodiazepine receptor site density.     

Neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects of organic and conventional purple grape juices on seizures in Wistar rats induced by pentylenetetrazole

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder worldwide. Studies have shown that recurrent seizures may increase the concentration of reactive oxygen species, which can lead to oxidative stress and neuronal damage. These seizures result in substantial deleterious effects on an individual's health. Organic and conventional grape juices are rich in polyphenols, compounds with important antioxidant activity. However, these juices could have differences in their polyphenol content. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects of organic and conventional grape juice treatments in Wistar rats against pentylenetetrazole (a convulsant drug)-induced damage. In addition, we evaluated potential behavioral changes in rats treated with the juices and the polyphenolic profile of those samples. Animals (n=16 in each group) received treatment with saline, organic or conventional grape juice for 17 days. On the eighteenth day, behavioral changes were evaluated by an open field test. Afterwards, half of the rats from each group received pentylenetetrazole and were observed for 30 min to evaluate possible seizure characteristics. The animals were subsequently killed by decapitation and their hippocampus, cerebellum and cerebral cortex tissues were isolated. The results of this study showed that neither organic nor conventional grape juice altered the behavior parameters, and no statistical differences were observed in the seizure characteristics of the groups. Nevertheless, both juice types were able to protect from lipid and protein oxidative damage, decrease nitric oxide content and increase enzymatic (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and non-enzymatic (sulfhydryl protein) antioxidant defenses in brain tissues following pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. In general, organic juice showed superior results in each test, probably due to its higher polyphenol content relative to conventional juice. These results indicate that grape juices can provide further insight into natural neuroprotective compounds and may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for epileptic patients.     

[3H]Paroxetine Binding and Serotonin Content of Rat Cortical Areas, Hippocampus, Neostriatum, Ventral Mesencephalic Tegmentum, and Midbrain Raphe Nuclei Region Following p-Chlorophenylalanine and p-Chloroamphetamine Treatment

The agents p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) deplete brain serotonin (5-HT) levels by two different mechanisms; PCPA inhibits the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase, whereas PCA has a neurotoxic action on certain 5-HT neurons. The parameters of [3H]paroxetine binding to homogenates prepared from the cerebral cortex of rats treated with PCPA, PCA, or saline; vehicle were investigated. The tissue concentrations of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were also determined by HPLC in the same brain samples. After PCPA treatment, neither the maximum binding capacity (Bmax) nor the dissociation constant (KD) of [3H]paroxetine for the 5-HT uptake recognition site differed from controls despite a substantial reduction in the concentration of 5-HT and 5-HIAA. In contrast, significant changes in both the Bmax and KD values were observed in the cerebral cortex of rats treated with PCA. Furthermore, [3H]paroxetine binding and tissue concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA were measured in the following different regions of the rat brain: cingulate, parietal, and visual cortical areas; dorsal and ventral hippocampus; rostral and caudal halves of neostriatum; ventral mesencephalic tegmentum; and midbrain raphe nuclei region after administration of PCPA, PCA, or saline vehicle. There was an excellent correlation between regional 5-HT levels and specific [3H]paroxetine binding in control and PCA-treated rats although this correlation was lost after PCPA treatment. Under these conditions, the 5-HT innervation remains unchanged whereas the concentration of 5-HT and 5-HIAA is greatly reduced. Thus, [3H]paroxetine binding appears to provide a reliable marker of 5-HT innervation density within the mammalian CNS.     

Effect of inferior olive lesion on seizure threshold in the rat

Cerebellar stimulation has been associated with anticonvulsant activity in several experimental seizure models. We examined the effect of destruction of cerebellar climbing fibers, by systemic administration of 3-acetylpyridine (3AP) or electrothermic lesion of the inferior olive, on seizures produced by various chemical convulsants in rats. We found that inferior olive lesioned rats had lower threshold to seizures induced by strychnine and brucine, both glycine antagonists. The dose response curve for strychnine seizure was shifted 2.5 times to the left in 3AP lesioned rats. No difference in seizure threshold was seen when picrotoxin, bicuculline or pentylenetetrazole PTZ) were used to produce seizures. Abnormal motor behavior (AMB) including myoclonus, backward movement and hyperextension, produced by all of the convulsants tested, was significantly aggravated in 3AP pretreated rats. The inferior olive-climbing fiber projection to the cerebellum appears to modulate seizures induced by inhibition of glycinergic neurotransmission.     

Reinitiation of ovulatory cycles in incubating female turkeys by an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, P-chlorophenylalanine

Nest deprivation of incubating turkeys caused a decrease in serum prolactin (Prl) levels from 1184.5 +/- 116.4 ng/ml to 896.8 +/- 83.0 ng/ml 1 day after initiation of deprivation, with a further decline to 156.5 +/- 111.7 ng/ml at the end of the 22-day experimental period. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and estradiol levels following nest deprivation were similar to those in birds allowed to incubate (controls). Oral administration of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 50 mg/kg) to incubating turkeys for 3 consecutive days reduced nesting frequency (P less than 0.05) on the 4th day after initiation of treatment and the nesting virtually ceased by the 9th day. Pretreatment Prl was 1655 +/- 210 ng/ml and declined (P less than 0.05) after PCPA administration to a low of 28.6 +/- 2.8 ng/ml. In addition, PCPA caused a sustained rise in serum LH peaking (5.59 +/- 1.09 ng/ml) 3 days after treatment initiation. Contrary to nest deprivation, serum levels of progesterone and estradiol increased (P less than 0.05) as a consequence of PCPA treatment. Seven of 8 PCPA-treated birds later came into lay when their Prl levels and nesting frequency increased again. The results suggest a role for serotonin (5-HT) in incubation behavior, and Prl and LH secretion in turkeys.     

褪黑素对谷氨酸钠致痫大鼠海马5-羟色胺水平的影响

目的观察褪黑素(Melatonin,MT)对谷氨酸钠(Glutamate,Glu)致痫大鼠海马5-羟色胺(5-hydroxytryptamine,5-HT)水平的影响,研究其抑制癫痫的作用机制。方法40只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组(每组10只),分别为生理盐水对照组(NS组);谷氨酸钠致痫组(Glu组);褪黑素 谷氨酸钠组(MT Glu组);Luzidole 褪黑素 谷氨酸钠组(Luz MT Glu组)。观察并记录大鼠行为学及脑电图改变,用免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠海马内5-HT含量变化。结果行为学观察和EEG显示,NS组无痫样发作和痫样放电,Glu组和Luz MT Glu组痫样发作重(Ⅲ-Ⅴ级),脑电图显示频发高幅的痫样波,TM Glu组无或仅有轻微发作(0-Ⅱ级),脑电图上无或偶见散在单个微小痫样波;免疫组织化学分析结果显示,Glu组和Luz MT Glu组大鼠海马内5-HT含量与对照组比较均减少,差异性明显(P<0.05),MT Glu组较Glu组和Luz MT Glu组5-HT含量升高,差异性明显(P<0.05)。结论MT对谷氨酸钠致痫大鼠痫样发作程度、痫样放电有抑制作用,其机制之一是经由其特异性的膜受体,通过某种机制增强5-HT作用,进而发挥抑痫效应。     

Histamine H1 receptor binding capacities in the amygdalas of the amygdaloid kindled rat

The histamine H1 receptor binding capacity of the amygdalas of amygdaloid kindled rats was studied. In the kindled nonstimulated amygdala, significant decreases in K(D) and B(max) values compared with those of control amygdala were found 1 week after the last kindled seizure. One month after the last kindled seizure, the decreased K(D) value was sustained in the kindled nonstimulated amygdala. This decreased Bmax value 1 week after the last kindled seizure in nonstimulated amygdala may partly and transiently contribute to kindled seizure susceptibility. The decreased K(D) value in nonstimulated amygdala observed until 1 month after the last kindled seizure indicates the long-lasting increment of binding affinity of the pyrilamine binding site of the histamine H1 receptor in the steady state of kindled seizure susceptibility.     

褪黑素对谷氨酸钠致痫大鼠海马5-色胺水平的影响

目的观察褪黑素（Melatonin,MT）对谷氨酸钠（Glutamate,Glu）致痫大鼠海马5-羟色胺（5-hydroxytryptamine,5-HT）水平的影响,研究其抑制癫痫的作用机制。方法40只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组（每组10只）,分别为生理盐水对照组（NS组）;谷氨酸钠致痫组（Glu组）;褪黑素＋谷氨酸钠组（MT＋Glu组）;Luzidole＋褪黑素＋谷氨酸钠组（Luz＋MT＋Glu组）。观察并记录大鼠行为学及脑电图改变,用免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠海马内5-HT含量变化。结果行为学观察和EEG显示,NS组无痫样发作和痫样放电,Glu组和Luz＋MT＋Glu组痫样发作重（Ⅲ—Ⅴ级）,脑电图显示频发高幅的痫样波,TM＋Glu组无或仅有轻微发作（0-Ⅱ级）,脑电图上无或偶见散在单个微小痫样波;免疫组织化学分析结果显示,Glu组和Luz＋MT＋Glu组大鼠海马内5-HT含量与对照组比较均减少,差异性明显（P〈0．05）,MT＋Glu组较Glu组和Luz＋MT＋Glu组5-HT含量升高,差异性明显（P〈0．05）。结论MT对谷氨酸钠致痫大鼠痫样发作程度、痫样放电有抑制作用,其机制之一是经由其特异性的膜受体,通过某种机制增强5-HT作用,进而发挥抑痫效应。     

Amygdala Kindling Modifies Extracellular Opioid Peptide Content in Rat Hippocampus Measured by Microdialysis

Abstract: Opioid peptide release in the hippocampus was shown to be increased immediately following amygdala kindling stimulation in freely moving rats using microdialysis combined with a universal opioid peptide radioimmunoassay (RIA). Extracellular opioid peptide levels were elevated (55% above basal levels) within the first 10 min after electrical stimulation-induced partial seizures in previously nonkindled animals. Fully kindled rats showed lower extracellular opioid peptide levels (40% reduction) during the interictal period [16 ± 2.1 days (mean ± SEM) after the last stage V seizure], in comparison with values obtained from the sham-kindled group under basal conditions. However, opioid peptide release in fully kindled rats increased above 152% of interictal levels within the first 20 min after onset of fully kindled seizures, attaining peak levels equal to that of the partial kindled group and returning to prestimulation conditions 40–60 min following the ictal events. The majority of the immunoreactive material recovered from the hippocampus within the first 20 min following partial and generalized kindled seizures coeluted with dynorphin-A (1–6), dynorphin-A (1–8), and Leu-enkephalin by HPLC/RIA analysis. It is proposed that the enhanced opioid peptide release in hippocampus induced by amygdala kindling stimulation might be associated with either enhanced excitability or seizure suppression as seizure susceptibility fluctuates. The reduced interictal opioid peptide levels may also underlie some interictal behavioral disturbances.     

dTyr-D-Phe3 (Pro-D-Phe-Pro-Gly) interacts specifically with amygdaloid-kindled seizures and is capable of preventing the learning deficit occurring after kindling.

In amygdala-kindled rats a deficit in learning brightness discrimination was found. We concluded that this result provides a reliable basis for creating an animal model of cognitive dysfunctions in epileptics. Recently, a des-tyrosine D-amino acid substituted derivative of bovine beta-casein(1-5) was reported to exhibit anticonvulsant as well as antidepressant activity. Therefore, we tested the effect of this peptide on kindled seizures and the learning deficit after kindling. It was found that the peptide suppressed the duration of seizures whereas seizure severity was not influenced. Furthermore, the learning performance of peptide-treated rats was significantly higher than that of kindled controls.