Inhibition of nicardipine on amygdala kindling in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects and mechanism of nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, on amygdala kindling in rats.


METHODS
Constant current stimulations were delivered to the right amygdala of the rats once a day. The effects of nicardipine on the development and seizure of amygdala kindling were observed and the content of amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain of kindled rats was determined.


RESULTS
Nicardipine (2 mg . kg-1, ip) significantly retarded the development of amygdala kindling (P < 0.01); 2 - 20 mg . kg-1 of nicardipine inhibited amygdala kindled seizure dose-dependently, elevated the afterdischarge threshold, and reduced the Racine's stage; 20 mg . kg-1 of nicardipine significantly increased the content of GABA, a kind of inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter, in the brain of amygdala kindled rats (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Nicardipine inhibits amygdala kindling in rats, and the inhibition mechanism may be related to the blockage of the voltage-operated calcium channels and the enhancement of GABAergic system action in the brain.
Yue
W
W
Department of Pharmacology, Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China. faoqmc@public.qd.sd.cn
Wang
L
L
Zhang
F
F
Zhong
W Z
WZ
Liu
Z T
ZT
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D009529:Nicardipine