Modulation of pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure activity by branched-chain amino acids and alpha-ketoisocaproate.
Branched-chain amino acids, and mainly leucine act as nitrogen donors in the cerebral glutamate-glutamine cycle, thereby reducing brain excitability. Rats equipped with cortical electrodes received 300 mg/kg of leucine, isoleucine, valine or the ketoacid of leucine, alpha-ketoisocaproate at 2 h before the induction of seizures by 40 mg/kg pentylenetetrazol. Control groups received saline or a commercial mixture of amino acids, Vamine(R). Leucine and isoleucine increased the latency to absence-like and tonic-clonic seizures but did not influence the duration of the tonic-clonic seizure. Vamine(R), valine and alpha-ketoisocaproate had no effect. These data are consistent with the role of leucine in buffering brain glutamate concentration.
Dufour
F
F
INSERM U 398, Faculté de Médecine, 11 rue Humann, 67085, Strasbourg Cédex, France.
Nalecz
K A
KA
Nalecz
M J
MJ
Nehlig
A
A
D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002208:Caproates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D002208:Caproates; D007651:Keto Acids; C013082:alpha-ketoisocaproic acid; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole