title: The effects of the diterpene sclareol glycol on seizures do not depend on central benzodiazepine receptors.
abstract: Using pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in subconvulsant doses, it was found that the semisynthetic diterpene sclareol glycol (SG) from the labdane family of diterpenes at a dose well below the lethal dose, although not being convulsant, had a proconvulsant action in mice. This action is indicated by the number of mice undergoing convulsions and the reduction of latency. Specific binding of [3H]-diazepam in vitro to whole homogenate fractions prepared from hippocampus of rats was not inhibited by SG. At the same time comparatively investigated Ro 15-1788 inhibited [3H]-diazepam binding. It is suggested that the proconvulsant effect of SG is realized not through interactions with central benzodiazepine receptors as Ro 15-1788 does, but perhaps through interactions with adenylate cyclase (stimulating its catalytic subunit and thus increasing brain 3',5'-AMP availability). Other brain neurotransmitter systems (e.g., GABA) should also participate in realization of the proconvulsant effect of SG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Georgieva
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danchev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; C060464:sclareol glycol