title: Essential fatty acid preparation (SR-3) raises the seizure threshold in rats.
abstract: The anticonvulsant properties of a mixture of non-esterified alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid with a ratio of 1:4 (SR-3) were evaluated in four rat models of epileptic seizures: (1) i.p. injection of a single convulsant dose (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) of pentylenetetrazol; (2) repeated subconvulsant doses of pentylenetetrazol; (3) cortical irritation by intraventricular administration of iron chloride (FeCl3); and (4) audiogenic seizure-prone preparation created by repeated pretreatment with p-cresol. Treatment with SR-3 (about 40 mg/kg i.p.) for a period of 3 weeks prior to challenge was found effective in each of these experimental models and caused up to a 22-fold increase in latency to major motor seizures, up to 84% reduction in the number of rats with seizures, and up to a 97% reduction in the duration of seizures. It is postulated that the anticonvulsant effects of SR-3 may be related to its stabilization of neuronal membranes. SR-3 should be evaluated further as a treatment for epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yehuda
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Carasso
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Mostofsky
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004597:Electroshock; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; C029451:ferrous chloride; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole