| Does Vigabatrin
Possess an Anticonvulsant Action Against
Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Seizures in Developing
Rats?
R.
HAUGVICOVÁ, H. KUBOVÁ, P. MAREŠ
Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of
the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
Received August 2, 2001
Accepted November 15, 2001
Summary
Anticonvulsant action of vigabatrin
(300, 600, 900 and/or 1200 mg/kg i.p.), an
inhibitor of GABA-transaminase, was studied in a
model of motor sezures elicited by
pentylenetetrazol. Five age groups of rats (7,
12, 18, 25 and 90 days old) received a s.c.
injection of pentylenetetrazol 4, 6 and/or 24
hours after vigabatrin administration. The
incidence of minimal, predominantly clonic
seizures was not changed in any age group, but
their latencies were prolonged in 18- and
25-day-old rats. Generalized tonic-clonic
seizures were influenced in a more complex
manner. Incidence of these seizures was decreased
in 7-day-old rat pups 24 hours after vigabatrin
administration. Higher doses of vigabatrin
exhibited a similar effect in adult rats at all
intervals studied. Specific suppression or at
least restriction of the tonic phase was observed
in all groups of immature rats, the effect was
more marked 24 hours after vigabatrin than at
shorter intervals. The anticonvulsant action of
vigabatrin, which could be demonstrated mainly
against generalized tonic-clonic seizures, varies
markedly during development.
Key
words
Vigabatrin
· Pentylenetetrazol · Motor seizures · Ontogeny · Rat
Reprint
requests
P. Mareš, M.D., D. Sc. Institute of
Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech
Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-142 20 Prague 4,
Czech Republic. E-mail: maresp@biomed.cas.cz
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