title: Involvement of GABAergic mechanisms in chloroquine-induced seizures in mice.
abstract: 1. The influence of some GABAergic agents on tonic seizures elicited by chloroquine was investigated in mice. 2. Chloroquine (45-100 mg/kg) elicited seizures in mice in a dose related manner. 3. Muscimol (1-2 mg/kg), DABA (8-16 mg/kg) and baclofen (4-16 mg/kg) profoundly delayed the onset of chloroquine (65 mg/kg)-induced seizures. The incidence of the seizures was also significantly reduced by muscimol (1-2 mg/kg), DABA (8 mg/kg) and baclofen (4-8 mg/kg). 4. AOAA (10 mg/kg) profoundly reduced the proportion of mice that convulsed while AOAA (20 mg/kg) completely protected mice against chloroquine (65 mg/kg)-induced seizures. 5. Bicuculline (5 mg/kg) and picrotoxin (0.5-1 mg/kg) significantly potentiated chloroquine (50 mg/kg)-induced seizures. The onset of seizures and the number of mice that convulsed were shortened and increased respectively. The onset of chloroquine (65 mg/kg)-elicited seizures was also profoundly shortened. Bicuculline (5 mg/kg) and picrotoxin (0.5 mg/kg) effectively antagonised the protective effects of muscimol (2 mg/kg), AOAA (10 mg/kg) and DABA (8 mg/kg) against chloroquine (65 mg/kg)-elicited seizures. 6. Diazepam (1 mg/kg) and phenobarbitone (20 mg/kg) significantly antagonised chloroquine (65 mg/kg) seizures. The onset of seizures was significantly delayed by both diazepam (0.25-1 mg/kg) and phenobarbitone (10-20 mg/kg). 7. These data suggest that enhancement and inhibition of GABAergic neurotransmission respectively attenuate and potentiate chloroquine seizures in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amabeoku
mesh_terms: D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000625:Aminooxyacetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D002738:Chloroquine; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000613:Aminobutyrates; D000625:Aminooxyacetic Acid; D009118:Muscimol; C005959:2,4-diaminobutyric acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002738:Chloroquine; D001418:Baclofen; D003975:Diazepam; D010634:Phenobarbital