title: Prevention of strychnine-induced seizures and death by the N-methylated glycine derivatives betaine, dimethylglycine and sarcosine.
abstract: Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) and N,N-dimethylglycine have been reported to have anticonvulsant properties in animals. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether these compounds can antagonize strychnine-induced seizures when administered intraperitoneally and to compare their effects with those of sarcosine (N-methylglycine) and glycine. Betaine, N,N-dimethylglycine and sarcosine were equipotent in decreasing the incidence of seizures and death, causing a 38 to 72 percent decrease in the incidence of seizures and death at a dosage of 5 mmole/kg. Glycine had no effect. Thus anticonvulsant activity is conferred to glycine by a single N-methylation.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Freed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001622:Betaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D051379:Mice; D012521:Sarcosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001622:Betaine; C025138:dimethylglycine; D013331:Strychnine; D005998:Glycine; D012521:Sarcosine