title: gamma Aminobutyric acid mediation of the anticonvulsant effect of clonidine on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in mice.
abstract: The effects of muscimol, amino-oxyacetic acid (AOAA), diamino-N-butyric acid (DABA), bicuculline, picrotoxin, diazepam and phenobarbitone on the protective effect of clonidine against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures were studied in mice. Muscimol, AOAA, DABA, phenobarbitone and diazepam significantly protected mice against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures and also significantly potentiated the protective effect of clonidine against the seizures. Bicuculline and picrotoxin significantly potentiated seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol and significantly attenuated both the protective effects of muscimol and clonidine against the seizures. These data suggest that activation of gamma-aminobutyric acid systems may underlie the protective effect of clonidine against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Harare.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amabeoku
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chikuni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bwakura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D003000:Clonidine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole