strychnine and Central-Nervous-System-Diseases

Topics: Animals; Anura; Arsenic Poisoning; Botulism; Cat Diseases; Cats; Central Nervous System Diseases; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Insecticides; Lead Poisoning; Mercury Poisoning; Organophosphorus Compounds; Plant Poisoning; Polyneuropathies; Strychnine; Tetanus; Thallium; Theobromine; Tick Paralysis

Topics: Aminobutyrates; Animals; Central Nervous System; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebral Cortex; Culture Techniques; Electric Stimulation; Electrophysiology; Evoked Potentials; Glycine; Magnesium; Neurons; Physostigmine; Picrotoxin; Rats; Spinal Cord; Strychnine; Synapses; Time Factors

Topics: Adult; Central Nervous System Diseases; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Child; Humans; Poisoning; Strychnine

A rare case of suicidal strychnine poisoning that resolved naturally without treatment is presented. The patient first complained of chest pain, which was originally thought to be caused by a dissecting aneurysm; however, nystagmus, dysesthesia, spastic paraplesia, and hyperreactivity to stimuli shortly developed. Diagnosis was difficult because the patient did not disclose the drinking of strychnine or the suicidal intent, and no abnormal signs were seen in the various central nervous system examinations. The natural course was observed without treatment because the patient's circulatory and respiratory condition was good. Movement disturbances in the upper extremities disappeared after 2 days, nystagmus in 3 days, and dysesthesia and spastic paraplesia in 4 days. The patient was able to stand on the fourth day and walk on the seventh. He was discharged on day 10 without any detectable ill effects.

Topics: Central Nervous System Diseases; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Hyperesthesia; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Spasticity; Paraplegia; Poisoning; Strychnine; Suicide, Attempted

The toxicity of LJC 10,627 to the central nervous system of rats was evaluated by examining the effects of the compound on gamma-aminobutyric acidA, benzodiazepine, and glycine receptor binding in rat synaptic membranes and on the induction of behavioral convulsions by intraventricular administration to rats. The concentrations of this compound needed to inhibit specific [3H]muscimol binding, specific [3H]diazepam binding, and specific [3H]strychnine binding were greater than those of imipenem, as demonstrated by the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50S of LJC 10,627, greater than 10 mM for each; IC50S of imipenem, 0.6, 1.9, and 0.2 mM, respectively). These results reflect the fact that LJC 10,627 does not evoke severe convulsions or cause death, even when it is administered intraventricularly at a high dose (300 micrograms per rat), and suggest that the low neurotoxic potential of LJC 10,627 may be attributed to the chemical structure of this compound, which has a methyl radical at the 1 beta site and a triazolium radical at the side chain of the second site.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Binding, Competitive; Central Nervous System Diseases; Diazepam; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Muscimol; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Glycine; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Seizures; Strychnine; Synaptic Membranes; Thienamycins

A series of benzazole-related, centrally acting muscle relaxants, comprising benzimidazole, chlorzoxazone, and zoxazolamine, were found to give substantial protection against the tremors and convulsions associated with the high pressure neurologic syndrome (HPNS) in the mouse. In this respect they represent a new class of nonanesthetic, anti-HPNS agents. Their anti-HPNS properties, like those previously established for the mephenesin group of centrally acting muscle relaxants, seem to be related to their ability to antagonize the convulsive action of strychnine. These findings are consistent with the suggestion that one of the principal effects of pressure, expressed as HPNS, arises from a perturbation of strychnine-sensitive mechanisms.

Topics: Animals; Benzimidazoles; Central Nervous System Diseases; Chlorzoxazone; High Pressure Neurological Syndrome; Male; Mice; Muscle Relaxants, Central; Strychnine; Zoxazolamine

Topics: Animals; Anticonvulsants; Behavior, Animal; Central Nervous System Diseases; Chlordiazepoxide; Depression, Chemical; Diazepam; Drug Synergism; Electroshock; Emotions; Hexobarbital; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Mental Disorders; Meprobamate; Mice; Morpholines; Movement; Muscle Relaxants, Central; Neurotic Disorders; Orientation; Oxazepam; Pentylenetetrazole; Rats; Schizophrenia; Strychnine; Tranquilizing Agents

Topics: Central Nervous System Diseases; Humans; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; Pyrogens; Strychnine