Dose-dependent anticonvulsive effect of ethanol on lindane-induced seizures in rats.
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.
Mladenović
Dusan
D
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Hrncić
Dragan
D
Radosavljević
Tatjana
T
Vucević
Danijela
D
Djurić
Dragan
D
Rasić-Marković
Aleksandra
A
Macut
Djuro
D
Susić
Veselinka
V
Sćepanović
Ljiljana
L
Stanojlović
Olivera
O
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
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000431:Ethanol; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane