Systemically administered glycine protects against strychnine convulsions, but not the behavioural effects of high pressure, in mice.
1. The effects of intraperitoneal administration of glycine were studied on the behavioural effects of raised ambient pressure in mice, compared with the effects of such administration on the actions of chemical convulsants. 2. Glycine did not alter the onset pressures for the occurrence of tremor, myoclonic jerks or clonic convulsions, when the ambient pressure was raised using helium. 3. Glycine showed a protective action against the convulsant effects of strychnine. 4. No protective action of glycine was found against the convulsant actions of pentylenetetrazol or bicuculline. 5. It is suggested that the results provide evidence that the high pressure neurological syndrome and strychnine convulsions have different neurophysiological origins.
Division of Anaesthesia, Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, Middlesex.
M J
MJ
Halsey
H J
HJ
Little
B
B
Wardley-Smith
D000818:Animals; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005998:Glycine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006610:High Pressure Neurological Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000633:toxicity; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
D013331:Strychnine; D005998:Glycine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D001640:Bicuculline