nitroarginine and Status-Epilepticus

During status epilepticus provoked by an intra-amygdala injection of kainic acid, the severity of seizures and of consequent neuronal damage was considerably increased in rats treated with L-NOARG, at a dose which completely inhibited NO synthesis. We propose that the effects of L-NOARG could be related to the loss of a retrograde inhibition exerted by NO on NMDA receptors. The complete suppression of NO formation in the brain finally facilitated the development and the generalization of seizures and their neurotoxic consequences.

Topics: Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; Amygdala; Animals; Arginine; Blood Pressure; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy, Generalized; Injections; Kainic Acid; Limbic System; Male; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitroarginine; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Status Epilepticus