title: Alpha-substituted gamma-butyrolactones: new class of anticonvulsant drugs.
abstract: Alkyl-Substituted gamma-butyrolactones were synthesized and tested for their convulsant and anticonvulsant actions in mice and guinea pigs. The alpha-substituted compounds, alpha, alpha-dimethyl-, and alpha-ethyl-alpha-methyl-gamma-butyrolactone were anticonvulsant compounds with a spectrum of activity similar to that of ethosuximide. In contrast, beta-substituted compounds were convulsant agents similar to picrotoxinin. The alpha-substituted-gama-butyrolactones represent a new class of anticonvulsant drug with experimental and clinical potential.
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003292:Convulsants; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000188:drug therapy; D005013:Ethosuximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005663:Furans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D051379:Mice; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014293:Trimethadione / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003292:Convulsants; D005663:Furans; C035544:2-ethyl-2-methyl-4-butyrolactone; C035545:2,2-dimethyl-4-butyrolactone; D005013:Ethosuximide; D015107:4-Butyrolactone; D014293:Trimethadione