title: GYKI 52466 and related 2,3-benzodiazepines as anticonvulsant agents in DBA/2 mice.
abstract: The behavioural and anticonvulsant effects of several 1-aryl-3,5-dihydro-4H-2,3-benzodiazepin-4-ones (2,3-BZs) and of 11b-aryl-7,11-dihydro-3-phenyl[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-a][2,3]benz odiazepin-6-ones (2,3-OBZs) were studied after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration in DBA/2 mice, a strain genetically susceptible to sound-induced seizures. The seizures were evoked by means of auditory stimulation (109 dB, 12-16 kHz) in animals placed singly under a hemispheric Perspex dome. The 2,3-benzodiazepines studied after 30 min pretreatment were generally less potent than the related derivative 1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine hydrochloride (GYKI 52466) except 3,5-dihydro-7,8-dimethoxy-1-phenyl-4H-2,3-benzodiazepin-4-one (2,3-BZ-2) and 2,3-BZ-2M (3-methyl derivative of 2,3-BZ-2) which showed comparable activity. Thirty minutes after i.p. administration of 2,3-benzodiazepines, the rank order of potency for anticonvulsant activity against clonus was 2,3-BZ-2 > GYKI 52466 > 2,3-BZ-2M > 2,3-BZ-1 > 2,3-BZ-3, > 2,3-OBZ-1, > 2,3-OBZ-2 2,3-OBZ-3. The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of aniracetam on it own (12.5 - 100 nmol/mouse) had no convulsant activity, but it reversed the anticonvulsant effects of some 2,3-benzodiazepines. In particular, the pharmacological actions of GYKI 52466, 2,3-BZ-2 and 2,3-BZ-2M, which proved to be the most potent 2,3-benzodiazepine derivatives as anticonvulsants, were significantly reduced by an i.c.v. pretreatment with aniracetam (50 nmol/mouse). Concomitant treatment with aniracetam (50 nmol/mouse) shifted to the right the dose-response curves and significantly increased the ED50 values for GYKI 52466, 2,3-BZ-2 and 2,3-BZ-2M. After 30 min pretreatment 2,3-BZ-2 showed a similar potency to GYKI 52466 in antagonizing seizures induced by i.c.v. administration of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), thus suggesting a clear involvement of AMPA receptors in the anticonvulsant activity of these compounds. In addition, 2,3-BZ-2 and 2,3-BZ-2M showed anticonvulsant properties longer lasting than GYKI 52466.
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: de Sarro
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chimirri
authors: A
authors: A
authors: De Sarro
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gitto
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Grasso
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Giusti
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C061950:GYKI 52466; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005442:Flumazenil; C036466:aniracetam