Postnatal caffeine treatment affects differently two pentylenetetrazol seizure models in rats.
Effects of repeated postnatal administration of caffeine (10 and 20mg/kg s.c. daily from P7 to P11) were studied in two models of epileptic seizures characterized by spike-and-wave EEG rhythm in 18- and 25-day-old rats. Rhythmic metrazol activity (RMA, model of human absences) was induced by low dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 20mg/kg or 40mg/kg, i.p.) and minimal clonic seizures (model of human myoclonic seizures) by two successive doses of PTZ (20 and 40mg/kg i.p.). Early postnatal caffeine treatment resulted in significant changes of RMA only in 18-day-old rats. Anticonvulsant effects were observed in RMA episodes elicited by the 20-mg/kg dose of PTZ in both caffeine groups whereas latency of RMA episodes induced by the 40-mg/kg dose was shortened and their duration was prolonged. No changes were found in 25-day-old animals. Incidence, EEG and motor pattern of minimal clonic seizures were not changed. Some animals in both control age groups exhibited transition to generalized tonic-clonic seizures. This type of seizures never appeared in caffeine-treated 25-day-old animals. Mixed effects of postnatal caffeine exposure were demonstrated; these predominantly anticonvulsant effects are age- and model-specific.
Tchekalarova
Jana
J
Laboratory of Experimental Psychopharmacology, Acad. G. Bonchev Street, Block 23, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria. jane_tch@yahoo.com
Kubová
Hana
H
Mares
Pavel
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010507:Periodicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole