Effects of drugs affecting noradrenergic neurotransmission in rats with spontaneous petit mal-like seizures.
Wistar rats of a strain displaying spontaneous petit mal-like seizures and spike-wave EEG discharged (SWD) were injected i.p. with drugs affecting noradrenergic neurotransmission. The EEG and behavior were recorded. Drugs which decrease alpha-noradrenergic neurotransmission, prazosin (alpha 1-antagonist) and clonidine (alpha 2-agonist), increased SWD and were sedative in a dose-dependent manner. Drugs which increase alpha-noradrenergic neurotransmission, ST 587, cirazoline (alpha 1-agonists) and yohimbine (alpha 2-antagonist), reduced SWD and the latter two caused agitation. Drugs which interact with beta-noradrenergic transmission (salbutamol, isoprenaline and propranolol), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (nialamide and iproniazid), and a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (desipramine), did not affect SWD. These findings suggest that noradrenaline participates in the control of petit mal-like seizures in the rat, as in other types of seizures and other animal models.
D000818:Animals; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007490:Iproniazid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
D011433:Propranolol; D007490:Iproniazid; D007545:Isoproterenol; D003891:Desipramine; D009638:Norepinephrine