title: Effects of levetiracetam on spike and wave discharges in WAG/Rij rats.
abstract: Effects of the novel anti-epileptic drug levetiracetam (50 and 100 mg/kg) on spike and wave discharges (SWDs) of WAG/Rij rats were studied. Levetiracetam decreased the incidence, average duration, total duration and peak frequency of the SWDs. There was no difference between the two doses. These results agree with results obtained in Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rat from Strasbourg (GAERS). Furthermore, the decrease of the SWD peak frequency might support the suggestions that levetiracetam might have a GABAergic mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: NICI/Department of Biological Psychology, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. B.Bouwman@nici.kun.nl
authors.forename: Brigitte M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bouwman
authors.forename: Clementina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Rijn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam