2-3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline and Epilepsy--Tonic-Clonic

Rats neonatally treated with 0.02% propylthiouracil (PTU) through mother's milk showed a high incidence of audiogenic seizures after maturation. These audiogenic seizures were differently modified by MK-801 and NBQX; while intraperitoneal MK-801 equally inhibited running fit (RF) and generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS), NBQX administered into cisterna ambiens significantly inhibited RF but not GTCS. The possible involvement of glutamate receptors in the inferior colliculus was further investigated using naive Sprague-Dawley rats injected with NMDA, AMPA or cyclothiazide, known as an inhibitor of desensitization of AMPA action. All drugs tested successfully induced RF followed by GTCS, resembling audiogenic seizures in PTU-treated rats. However, sound stimulation could augment AMPA-induced, but not NMDA-induced GTCS. Systemic administration with MK-801 potently blocked GTCS induced by AMPA/cyclothiazide, but the same drug failed to block RF after intracisternal injection with AMPA/cyclothiazide. Furthermore, intracisternal administration with NBQX significantly inhibited only RF induced by AMPA/cyclothiazide. The present study suggests that: 1) glutamate receptors in the brainstem, possible in the inferior colliculus, play a crucial role in audiogenic seizures, namely the initiation of RF and propagation into GTCS; and 2) the initiation mechanism is regulated by both NMDA and AMPA receptors, whereas propagation is mainly controlled by NMDA receptors.

Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Benzothiadiazines; Brain Stem; Dizocilpine Maleate; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; Inferior Colliculi; N-Methylaspartate; Neuroprotective Agents; Propylthiouracil; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, AMPA; Receptors, Glutamate; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Seizures

Non-NMDA receptor antagonists CNQX, DNQX, and NBQX (10-40 mg/kg IP) were tested against pentylenetetrazol-induced (100 mg/kg SC) seizures in 7 to 90-day-old rats. All three drugs significantly decreased the incidence of tonic hindlimb component of tonic-clonic pentylenetetrazol seizures, often in favor of increased incidence of forelimb tonus throughout development. In addition, in 7 to 25-day-old rats, DNQX and NBQX decreased the severity of seizures due to a decrease in total incidence of the tonic component of tonic-clonic seizures compared to age-matched controls. However, neither drug was able to consistently suppress the incidence or increase latency to onset of clonic and tonic-clonic pentylenetetrazol seizures. The data suggest that, during development, non-NMDA receptor transmission may play a role in the generation of the tonic component, but not in the generation of other components of pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures.

Topics: 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; Aging; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Behavior, Animal; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Hindlimb; Male; Muscle Tonus; Pentylenetetrazole; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, AMPA; Receptors, Kainic Acid; Seizures; Synaptic Transmission

The effect of i.p. or i.v. administration of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, GYKI 52466 (1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylendioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepin e.HCl, molecular weight 330) and NBQX (2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(F)-quinoxaline, molecular weight 342) on sound-induced seizures in rats and photically induced myoclonus in baboons was studied. In both species an anticonvulsant effect occurred 15-60 min after administration of GYKI 52466 or NBQX. The ED50 value for clonic seizure suppression for GYKI 52466 at 30 min was 39 (rats, i.p.) and at 15 min was 13 (Papio papio, i.v.) mumol kg-1 and for NBQX at 30 min was 40 (rats, i.p.) and at 15 min approximately 10 (Papio papio, i.v.) mumol kg-1. Side effects were not observed in rats; apparent side effects in baboons probably arose from drug formulation. The anticonvulsant actions of GYKI 52466 and NBQX suggest a possible role for non-NMDA antagonists in the therapy of epilepsy.

Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Anticonvulsants; Behavior, Animal; Benzodiazepines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epilepsies, Myoclonic; Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Female; Male; Papio; Photic Stimulation; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reflex