title: Differential effects of antiepileptic drugs and beta-carbolines on seizures induced by excitatory amino acids.
abstract: Agonists acting at subtypes of glutamate receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate, kainate and quisqualate, induce convulsions in rodents. Clonic seizures induced in mice by intracerebral administration of N-methyl-D-aspartate, kainate or quisqualate were used to study the anti- and proconvulsant potential of antiepileptic drugs and beta-carbolines. Systemic administration showed that the benzodiazepines clonazepam and midazolam blocked convulsions induced by kainate and had no effect on seizures triggered by N-methyl-D-aspartate and quisqualate. In contrast, diazepam blocked convulsions induced by either excitatory amino acid, as did valproate. The benzodiazepine receptor agonist beta-carboline ZK 93423 blocked convulsions induced by kainate but had no effect on seizures induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate or quisqualate. The antagonist beta-carboline ZK 93426 did not affect convulsions induced by excitatory amino acids, while the inverse agonists FG 7142 and ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate increased the sensitivity of mice to kainate. Phenobarbital and 2-chloroadenosine protected mice against seizures induced by quisqualate and kainate, while baclofen was active against convulsions produced by kainate. MK-801 selectively blocked convulsions induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate, and enhanced the susceptibility of mice to seizures triggered by kainate and quisqualate. Ethosuximide increased the susceptibility of mice to N-methyl-D-aspartate and had little or no effect on other types of seizures. Diphenylhydantoin enhanced the convulsant potential of quisqualate. Trimethadione and carbamazepine did not affect convulsions induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate, kainate or quisqualate. Intracerebral administration of midazolam protected mice against seizures induced by kainate. Ethosuximide increased the susceptibility of mice to N-methyl-D-aspartate, while diphenylhydantoin to quisqualate convulsions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratories of Schering AG, Berlin, F.R.G.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turski
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niemann
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003292:Convulsants; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000633:toxicity*; D016318:Quisqualic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002243:Carbolines; D003292:Convulsants; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D016318:Quisqualic Acid; D007608:Kainic Acid