acth-(4-7)--pro-gly-pro- and Epilepsy--Reflex

Pups of Wistar and KM rats (with predisposition to audiogenic epilepsy) were daily injected with neuropeptide semax (50 mg/kg) or NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME (50 mg/kg) on days 7-11 of life. Alterations of audiogenic seizures pattern were revealed in rats of both strains at the age of 1 month, while changes in seizure severity were genotype-dependent. Both agents enhance neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the delayed effect in the form of altered seizure pattern seems to be determined by this factor. Genotype-dependent alterations of seizure severity after administration of semax and L-NAME were differently directed. These effects are suggested to be underlined by physiological and biochemical mechanisms not related to the intensity of postnatal neurogenesis.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Dentate Gyrus; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epilepsy, Reflex; Female; Genotype; Male; Neurogenesis; Neuroprotective Agents; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Peptide Fragments; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Seizures; Severity of Illness Index; Species Specificity; Time Factors

Neonatal (from day 2 to day 7 of life) injection of neuropeptide semax to mice of 5 inbred strains significantly reduced predisposition to audiogenic epilepsy in only one-month-old DBA/2J mice, which manifested in changes in the mean audiogenic sensitivity score and percentage of animals dead as a result of acoustic stimulation.

Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Disease Susceptibility; Epilepsy, Reflex; Female; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Neuroprotective Agents; Peptide Fragments; Rats; Rats, Wistar