anisomycin and Seizures

The effects of two protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide and anisomycin, were tested on seizures induced by coadministration of lithium and pilocarpine to rats. Systemic cycloheximide (2 mg/kg, s.c.) and centrally administered anisomycin (300 micrograms/10 microliters, i.c.v.) doubled the latency to initiation of seizures and to status epilepticus, while peripherally administered anisomycin (50 mg/kg, s.c.) completely blocked lithium-pilocarpine seizures. These results indicate that protein synthesis is required for initiation of seizures.

Topics: Animals; Anisomycin; Cerebral Ventricles; Cycloheximide; Electroencephalography; Hippocampus; Injections, Intraventricular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lithium Chloride; Male; Pilocarpine; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Seizures; Status Epilepticus; Time Factors

Anisomycin and cycloheximide were used to investigate the role of protein synthesis in the mechanism of behavioral sensitization to the stereotypic effects of cocaine and amphetamine in mice. The drugs completely antagonize induction and partially block expression of the sensitization. Because these drugs were found to be neither antidopaminergic nor antiglutamatergic, it seems that they disrupt sensitization at a novel locus. The antagonism of expression is limited to that quantitative fraction of the response derived from the sensitization reaction; the acute response is unaffected by the inhibitors of protein synthesis. The results differ from those obtained with haloperidol which can completely block either the acute or sensitized response to the stimulants. These results suggest that the sensitized response is functionally different from that of the acute response. The blockage of sensitization induction by the protein synthesis inhibitors may be related to other reports that the stimulants induce the transcription of immediate early genes; however, the relationship between the activation of immediate early genes and behavioral sensitization remains to be determined.

Topics: Amphetamine; Animals; Anisomycin; Behavior, Animal; Cocaine; Cycloheximide; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Mice; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Seizures; Stereotyped Behavior

Behavioral measures were evaluated in adult CD-1 and LAF-1 mice continuously exposed for 72 h to a 1.5-Tesla (1 T = 10(4) Gauss) homogeneous DC magnetic field, and in LAF-1 mice continuously exposed for 72 h to a sinusoidal 60-Hz, 1.65-mT (rms) homogeneous AC field. Three types of behavioral tests were employed: (1) Memory of an electroshock-motivated passive avoidance task was assessed in animals that had been trained immediately prior to the field exposure. The strength of memory was varied either by altering the strength of the electric footshock during training, or by administering a cerebral protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, at the time of training. (2) General locomotor activity was measured using a quadrant-crossing test immediately after termination of the magnetic field exposure. (3) Sensitivity of the experimental subjects to the seizure-inducing neuropharmacological agent, pentylenetrazole , was assessed immediately after the field exposure on the basis of three criteria: (a) the percentage of subjects exhibiting a generalized seizure, (b) the mean time to seizure, and (c) the mean seizure level. The results of these studies revealed no behavioral alterations in exposed mice relative to controls in any of the experimental tests with the 1.5-T DC field or the 60-Hz, 1.65-mT (rms) AC field.

Topics: Animals; Anisomycin; Avoidance Learning; Behavior, Animal; Electromagnetic Fields; Electromagnetic Phenomena; Female; Male; Memory; Mice; Motor Activity; Pentylenetetrazole; Seizures

Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Anisomycin; Electric Stimulation; Evoked Potentials; Male; Mice; Pyrrolidines; Seizures

Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Anisomycin; Anticonvulsants; Brain; Cycloheximide; Electric Stimulation; Male; Protein Biosynthesis; Pyrrolidines; Rats; Seizures