enkephalin--ala(2)-mephe(4)-gly(5)- and Epilepsy--Absence

Involvement of the kappa opioid receptor in the regulation of epileptic activity was studied in WAG/Rij rats, a genetic model of absence epilepsy. I.c.v. administration of the kappa agonists U50,488H (trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]- benzeneacetamide), U69,593 (5 alpha, 7 alpha, 8 beta)-(-)-N-methyl-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1- oxaspiro(4,5)dec-8-yl)benzeneacetamide) or PD117,302 ((+/-)-trans-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)- cyclohexyl]benzo[b]thiophene-4-acetamide), 50 and 150 micrograms/5 microliter each, dose-dependently decreased the number and mean duration of spike wave discharges (SWD). Peripheral administration of U50,488H (10 and 30 mg/kg s.c.) also attenuated the seizure activity in this model. The specific kappa opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (Nor-BNI, 10 micrograms/5 microliters i.c.v., 18 h before EEG registration) moderately increased the number of SWD, which suggests that endogenous opioids acting through kappa receptors may tonically inhibit the seizure activity in these rats. In addition, the enhancement of an absence-like seizure activity induced by the specific mu opioid receptor agonist D-Ala2-N-methyl-Phe4-Gly5-ol-enkephalin (DAMGO, 0.7 microgram/5 microliters i.c.v.) was also attenuated in rats pretreated with U50,488H, U69,593 or PD117,302. These data indicate that activation of the kappa opioid receptor exerts an inhibitory effect on absence-like seizure activity in WAG/Rij rats.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electroencephalography; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalins; Epilepsy, Absence; Injections, Intraventricular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Naltrexone; Pyrroles; Pyrrolidines; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Thiophenes

The effects of various types of opioid receptor agonists and antagonists were determined in a genetic rat model for generalized absence epilepsy. Rats of the WAG/Rij strain spontaneously showed several hundred spike-wave discharges per day. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of the selective mu agonist DAMGO (0.2, 0.7 microgram) resulted in a dose-related increase in the number of spike-wave discharges, while the selective delta agonist DPDPE (20, 60 micrograms) was without effect. DAMGO reduced the duration of automatic behavior, enhanced the immobile behavior (after the low dose) and had no effect on exploratory behavior. On the other hand, DPDPE significantly enhanced the total time spent on exploration, but did not influence other behavioral parameters. There was no correlation between the ability to the drug to modulate the epileptic activity and behavioral changes. The nonselective antagonist naloxone, administered either i.p. (0.4, 2.0, 10 mg/kg) or i.c.v. (10, 50 micrograms), increased the number of spike-wave discharges in a dose-dependent way. The specific delta receptor antagonist naltrindole (0.3, 1 mg/kg) was without effect, as was the irreversible mu receptor antagonist beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA). Pretreatment with beta-FNA diminished the action of DAMGO. These results clearly indicate that activation of the mu opioid receptor increases the number of spike-wave discharges, and that modulation of delta receptors is not effective. On the other hand, the naloxone-induced enhancement of spike-wave discharges, suggests a tonic control of the epileptic activity by another opioid system. These results point to an important role of the mu-, but not delta-, receptor in facilitation of the epileptic activity in WAG/Rij rats.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Electroencephalography; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalins; Epilepsy, Absence; Male; Naloxone; Rats; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, mu