Long-term effects of status epilepticus induced by kainic acid on hippocampal polyamines.
Putrescine has been suggested to have an inhibitory effect on the excitability of the central nervous system. In the present study we found that 2 and 3 weeks after status epilepticus induced by kainic acid, rats had increased concentrations of putrescine (3- and 1.7-fold, respectively) and spermidine (1.6- and 1.4-fold, respectively) in the hippocampus. These animals exhibited a higher susceptibility to pentylentetrazol than the saline group. In addition, several hours after the pentylentetrazol injection, the concentration of putrescine and spermidine increased again in the brain and also in the plasma. In conclusion, increased hippocampal putrescine and spermidine concentrations seem to be linked with a lower threshold of excitability.
Giménez-Llort
L
L
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC, Spain.
Martínez
E
E
Camón
L
L
de Vera
N
N
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003292:Convulsants; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007608:Kainic Acid; D008297:Male; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D015317:Biogenic Polyamines; D003292:Convulsants; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D007608:Kainic Acid; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole