dextromethorphan and Epilepsy--Reflex

Rats become susceptible to audiogenic seizures (AS) when they are exposed to intense noise during a certain critical period of development (priming). Antagonism of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor NR2B subunit by injecting an antagonist ifenprodil at priming enhanced the later susceptibility to AS. An weak NR2A antagonist, dextromethorphan, did not show such effects while it significantly suppressed the manifestation of AS in already susceptible post-weaning (primed) rats. These results indicate that NR2B plays an important role in the developmental regulation of the auditory system involved in AS but this subunit has a minor relevance to the manifestation of AS in the later life.

Topics: Animals; Dextromethorphan; Disease Susceptibility; Epilepsy, Reflex; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Female; Male; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Seizures