Pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling stimulates the polyamine interconversion pathway in rat brain.
The levels of polyamines, N-acetylpolyamines, and GABA in the cerebral cortex and brainstem of rat brain after completion of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindling were investigated. Pretreatment with the polyamine oxidase inhibitor MDL72527 caused an accumulation of N1-acetylspermidine and N1-acetylspermine in normal rats. After a kindling seizure, the levels of N-acetylpolyamines were elevated, particularly in the cerebral cortex, indicating activation of polyamine interconversion. The levels of putrescine and GABA were lower in kindled rats pretreated with MDL72527. In addition, pretreatment with MDL72527 enhanced the seizure susceptibility to PTZ in normal rats. These results suggest that the polyamine interconversion pathway is involved in brain excitability, probably through the regulation of putrescine and GABA levels.
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D003292:Convulsants; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism