title: Dose-dependent anticonvulsive effect of ethanol on lindane-induced seizures in rats.
abstract: Chronic ethanol consumption is a major risk factor for epilepsy, and seizures frequently occur during the withdrawal period. The aim of our study was to investigate effects of ethanol on lindane-induced seizures in rats. Male Wistar rats were injected i.p. with one of the following 5 treatments: (i) saline, (ii) dimethylsulfoxide, (iii) lindane (8 mg/kg) (L), (iv) ethanol in doses of 0.5 g/kg (E(0.5)), 1 g/kg (E(1)), and 2 g/kg (E(2)), and (v) groups that received ethanol 30 min before lindane (LE(0.5), LE(1), and LE(2)). Behavioral changes were described by using a descriptive scale as follows: 0, no response; 1, head nodding, lower jaw twitching; 2, myoclonic body jerks, bilateral forelimb clonus; 3, generalized tonic-clonic convulsions; 4, status epilepticus. The incidence of convulsions in the LE(2) group was significantly lower than the incidence in the L (p < 0.01) and LE(0.5) groups (p < 0.05). The median grade of convulsive behavior was significantly lower in the LE(2) (p < 0.01) and LE(1) groups (p < 0.05) compared with the L group. Latencies to the first seizure response were not significantly different among groups. ED50 of ethanol was 1.40 (1.19-1.65). Our findings suggest that ethanol decreased severity and incidence of lindane-induced seizures in a dose-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mladenović
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hrncić
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Radosavljević
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vucević
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Djurić
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasić-Marković
authors.forename: Djuro
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macut
authors.forename: Veselinka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Susić
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sćepanović
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stanojlović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000431:Ethanol; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane