title: Anticonvulsant effects of carbenoxolone in genetically epilepsy prone rats (GEPRs).
abstract: Carbenoxolone (CBX), the succinyl ester of glycyrrhetinic acid, is an inhibitor of gap junctional intercellular communication. Systemic administration of CBX was able to decrease the seizure severity score and to increase the latency time of seizure onset in genetically epilepsy prone rats (GEPRs). In particular, intravenous or intraperitoneal administration of carbenoxolone (5-30 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent and significant reduction in the clonic and tonic phases of the audiogenic seizures in GEPRs. The anticonvulsant doses were not associated with an impairment of motor coordination. The bilateral microinjection of CBX (0.001-0.50 microg/0.5 microl) into the inferior colliculi, the substantia nigra (pars reticulata or compacta) and the inferior olivary complex was able to reduce the seizure severity score in a dose-dependent manner. The anticonvulsant effects were longer lasting after focal microinjection than after systemic administration. No anticonvulsant effects were observed following focal bilateral microinjections of glycyrrhizin into the same brain areas where CBX was shown to be effective.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gareri
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Condorelli
authors.forename: Natale
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Belluardo
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loiacono
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barresi
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trovato-Salinaro
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trovato-Salinato
authors.forename: Melita B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mirone
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferreri Ibbadu
authors.forename: Giovambattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Sarro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017630:Connexins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002229:Carbenoxolone; D017630:Connexins; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein