title: Effects of diltiazem on hyperthermia induced seizures in the rat pup.
abstract: 1. We studied the effects of a calcium antagonist diltiazem, as well as diazepam and phenytoin on hyperthermia induced seizures in unrestrained 15 day-old rats. 2. Saline injected animals exposed to an ambient temperature of 40 degrees C showed a gradual increase in body temperature reaching a maximum of 42 +/- 0.1 degree C at 50 min. 3. At this time all rats pups had generalized seizures. 4. Similar results were obtained when the animals were pretreated with phenytoin (100% showed seizures). 5. Animals receiving diltiazem had a temperature of 41.5 +/- 0.1 degree C at 90 min of exposure to 40 degrees C environment. 6. However, diltiazem completely prevented seizures. 7. The rats treated with diazepam showed lower temperature than in saline, diltiazem and phenytoin groups and no seizures were observed in this experimental group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Laorden
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Miralles
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Puig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D010672:Phenytoin; D004110:Diltiazem; D003975:Diazepam