title: Study on the anticonvulsant activity of clonidine against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in rats: pharmacological evidence of alpha 2-adrenoceptors mediation.
abstract: The present work deals with an EEG and behavioral study of the interaction of alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists on the anticonvulsant activity of clonidine against the convulsions due to pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in rats. Clonidine's ability (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) to inhibit the tonic seizures and mortality induced by PTZ (75 mg/kg, i.p.) was counteracted by pretreatment with yohimbine and mianserine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). On the contrary, prazosin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not influence the anticonvulsant effect of clonidine. The results suggest that central alpha 2-adrenoceptors play an important role in the control of motor and EEG convulsions elicited by PTZ.
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D003000:Clonidine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole