Higher susceptibility of taurine-deficient rats to seizures induced by 4-aminopyridine.
The susceptibility of rats made deficient of taurine by treatment with guanidinoethane sulfonate (GES), to seizures induced by 4-aminopyridine was examined. Guanidinoethane sulfonate, at a concentration of 1% was administered to pregnant rats, in the drinking water 2-3 days prior to delivery and the treatment was continued during nursing. Pups were weaned to the same treatment until 6 weeks of age. This treatment decreased levels of taurine in the cerebral cortex by 70%. 4-Aminopyridine was injected intraperitoneally at doses ranging from 4-7 mg/kg. Taurine-deficient rats showed a greater susceptibility to seizures, as demonstrated by a lowered latency for clonic seizures, an increased incidence of tonic seizures and a higher postseizure mortality. These results suggest an involvement of endogenous taurine in nervous excitability.
Pasantes-Morales
H
H
Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F.
Arzate
M E
ME
Quesada
O
O
Huxtable
R J
RJ
D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D000631:Aminopyridines; D013654:Taurine; C009558:taurocyamine; D015761:4-Aminopyridine