dinoprost and Epilepsy--Tonic-Clonic

This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of brain PGD2 activity during PTZ induced seizures in rats. Potentiation of endogenous PGD2 activity caused an anti-convulsant effect. Thus, after PGD2 injection (5 microg/icv) the latency of generalized tonic clonic convulsions was prolonged. ZK 118.182, a stable analogue of PGD2, dose-dependently inhibited the incidence and the intensity of seizures when injected at doses of 1-100 ng/icv. But on the other hand, inhibition of PGD2 activity either by a D-type PG receptor antagonist (AH 6809; 50 ng/icv) or by a PGD synthase inhibitor (sodium selenite; 0.2 microg/icv) produced a proconvulsant effect by increasing the incidence and the intensity of the seizures. These findings indicate that endogenous PGD2 activity in the brain may have a specific inhibitory role for the initiation and propagation of PTZ induced seizures in rats.

Topics: Animals; Anticonvulsants; Cerebral Ventricles; Dinoprost; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Pentylenetetrazole; Prostaglandin Antagonists; Prostaglandin D2; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Seizures; Sodium Selenite; Xanthenes; Xanthones

Mid-trimester therapeutic abortion is performed routinely in several clinics by using a combination of intra-amniotic instillation of prostaglandin F2 alpha, followed by intravenous infusion of oxytocin in 5% glucose. In doses as low as 10 mU/min, oxytocin has an antidiuretic action. Two cases of grand mal-like seizure in connection with this procedure of therapeutic abortion are reported and the background discussed.. The cases of 2 women undergoing induced abortions in the 16th week of gestation who developed hyponatremia and grand mal-like seizures during administration of oxytocin are described. The women, aged 22 and 16, received 50 mg synthetic prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), Amoglandin, intraamniotically, as well as intravenous infusions of 5% glucose with synthetic oxytocin, Syntocinon, 100 I.U./1000 ml. 25 and 26 hours later the 2 patients had typical grand mal-like seizures followed by postictal sleep. The patients had received total doses of 400 and 200 I.U. of oxytocin. The oxytocin infusions were stopped and .9% NaC1 solution was administered intravenously. Both patients were discharged fully recovered after 4 days. Synthetic oxytocin is known to have a dose-dependent antidiuretic effect during intravenous infusion, even in doses as low as 10 mU/minute. The routine use of oxytocin for midtrimester abortion was discontinued by the authors after the cases occurred.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Adolescent; Adult; Dinoprost; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Female; Humans; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Prostaglandins F