title: Phenobarbital pre-treatment prevents kainic acid-induced impairments in acquisition learning.
abstract: This study examined the protective effect of phenobarbital on kainic acid-induced deficits in acquisition learning. A single kainic acid injection (9 mg/kg i.p.) was administered five days prior to testing using the Morris water maze test. Kainic acid produced deficits in the acquisition of spatial information observed as an increase in latency to a hidden escape platform. Daily phenobarbital treatment (20 mg/kg i.p.) initiated 45 minutes prior to the kainic acid injection blocked the kainic acid-induced deficits in acquisition learning. When daily phenobarbital treatment was initiated 2-3 hours after kainic acid seizure development it did not block the kainic acid induced-deficits in water maze performance. Daily administration of phenobarbital alone at the moderate concentration used in this study did not cause alterations in behavioral performance in the Morris water maze. These studies indicate that phenobarbital pre-treatment results in a behavioral neuroprotection against kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, 4209 State Route 4, P.O. Box 95, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA. lbrown@neoucom.edu
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brown-Croyts
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Caton
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Radecki
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McPherson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018757:GABA Modulators; D007608:Kainic Acid; D010634:Phenobarbital