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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We studied the effects of microinjected drugs and brainstem lesions on motor and limbic seizures in the kindling model of epilepsy. The duration of motor seizures was determined by timing the colonic and tonic movements of the extremities. The duration of limbic seizures was determined by measuring afterdischarge recorded on the electroencephalogram. Bilateral microinjection of a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, muscimol, into the area of the substantia nigra (SN) markedly suppressed both motor and limbic seizures induced by stimulation of amygdala, olfactory structures, or lateral entorhinal cortex. Microinjection of saline did not suppress seizures. The suppressive effect of muscimol: (i) dissipated after several hours and was dependent on dose; (ii) was due to an elevation of the seizure threshold, since typical seizures could be elicited with electrical current far exceeding the threshold; and (iii) exhibited spatial specificity since muscimol injections 1 to 2 mm dorsal to the SN or into neocortex did not suppress the seizures. The actions of muscimol were probably mediated by its GABA agonist properties, since microinjection of an irreversible inhibitor of GABA transaminase (gamma-vinyl GABA) into the area of the SN also suppressed kindled seizures. Destruction of brainstem structures was produced by microinjection of the neurotoxin, N-methyl-D,L-aspartate. Seizures were markedly suppressed in animals with bilateral destruction of the SN but not in animals in which the SN was spared bilaterally. We interpret the data to indicate that the SN is the site at which the GABA agonists and lesions act to raise the threshold for kindled seizures. The suppression of limbic seizures indicates that this brainstem nucleus can regulate the intrinsic neuronal excitability of hemispheric sites.
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PMID:Evidence implicating substantia nigra in regulation of kindled seizure threshold. 648 54

It has been demonstrated in (CBA X C57BL/6) F1 mice that daily corazole injections (30 mg/kg) lead to the development of pharmacological kindling that manifests in a progressive increase of seizure susceptibility, seizure occurrence in response to the subthreshold convulsant dose and in demonstrable seizures. Cytophotometric study of the histological specimens of the sensorimotor cortex discovered the reduced enzymatic activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and GABA transaminase in the neurons. In the neuroglial cells, the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase also declined, whereas that of GABA transaminase tended on the contrary, towards increase.
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PMID:[Cytophotometric study of changes in glutamate dehydrogenase and GABA transaminase in the cerebral cortex during corazole kindling]. 672 1

Changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) occurring in the presence and in the absence of GABA-containing nerve terminals were estimated in rats in which the dense GABA projection to the substantia nigra was surgically destroyed on one side of the brain. The net increase in GABA of the denervated nigra was compared with that of the intact nigra at various times after a single injection of gama-vinyl-GABA, which irreversibly inhibits GABA transaminase. Total GABA reached a maximum within 12 hours, but the GABA pool associated with nerve terminals did not increase until 36 hours and peaked at 60 hours. The onset and peak of anticonvulsant activity against maximal electroshock seizures directly paralleled the time course for the increase in GABA in nerve terminals, but was not positively correlated with that independent of the terminals. This result supports the concept that elevating GABA in nerve terminals facilitates GABA-mediated synaptic transmission and predicts anticonvulsant activity.
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PMID:Seizure protection and increased nerve-terminal GABA: delayed effects of GABA transaminase inhibition. 676 30

The slow onset and carry-over effect of valproic acid (VPA) therapy observed in some clinical as well as experimental animal studies have been examined by parallel pharmacokinetic and pharmacological investigations in a mouse model. VPA was rapidly transferred into brain and was cleared from that tissue with rates which exceeded plasma clearance rates. Of several VPA metabolites present in plasma, only one could be found in the brain: 2-propyl-2-pentenoic acid. This metabolite was cleared from plasma and from brain slower than the parent drug. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations were increased within 15 min after VPA injection and remained significantly elevated for at least 8 h. A similar time course was found in regard to the increase of the electroconvulsive threshold (maximal seizures) induced by VPA administration. The activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase rose parallel to the elevation of brain GABA levels, whereas the activity of GABA aminotransferase was not affected. Whereas the rapid onset of the effect on electroconvulsive threshold and on GABA metabolism can be explained by the rapid entrance of VPA into brain, the carry-over effects observed correlated with the kinetics of the metabolite 2-propyl-2-pentenoic acid better than with those of VPA due to the persistence of this metabolite in brain.
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PMID:Valproic acid: brain and plasma levels of the drug and its metabolites, anticonvulsant effects and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism in the mouse. 680 Dec 54

Mice were treated with different doses of the GABA aminotransferase (GABA-T) inhibitors aminooxyacetic acid, gamma-acetylenic acid, gamma-vinyl GABA and ethanolamine-O-sulphate via the drinking water for periods of 1-12. All drugs caused marked elevations of whole brain GABA concentrations within 4 days of treatment which were associated with increases in the electroconvulsive threshold. However, the effect on seizure threshold could not be enhanced by an increase in the daily dosage of the GABA-T inhibitors and, especially with higher doses, tolerance to the anticonvulsant effect developed. At least in part, this finding may be attributed to a decrease in the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme responsible for GABA synthesis. On the other hand, with valproic acid (VPA) no tendency towards a reduced anticonvulsant effectiveness during medication was observed. VPA caused only non-significant increases in cerebral GABA levels but elevated brain GAD activity significantly. No behavioral changes were seen following subchronic administration of GABA-T inhibitors and VPA except in cases where the daily fluid intake was markedly reduced. Our data suggest that the anticonvulsant efficacy of long term treatment with GABA-T inhibitors is limited by the development of compensatory mechanisms, such as reduction of GAD activity, which in turn reduce the amount of GABA available for synaptic transmission, though overall GABA concentrations in the brain are highly elevated. Drug such as VPA which cause only moderate effects on GABA metabolism seem superior in this respect.
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PMID:Anticonvulsant and biochemical effects of inhibitors of GABA aminotransferase and valproic acid during subchronic treatment in mice. 680 73

Mice were continuously treated with valproic acid (VPA) via the drinking water for period from 1 to 12 days. The daily drug intake varied between 500 and 580 mg/kg. However, due to the rapid elimination of VPA in this species average plasma concentrations of only 3-4 micrograms/ml VPA were present at 8:30 a.m., the time chosen for determinations. In the brain, VPA levels were about 10% of those in plasma. In regard to VPA metabolism the products of beta-oxidation 2-en-VPA 2-propyl-2-pentenoic acid) and 3-keto-VPA (2-propyl-3-oxopentanoic acid) proved to be the main metabolites in plasma although other (minor) metabolites of VPA were also present. The only metabolite of VPA detected in the brain was 2-en-VPA. VPA medication caused a significant increase in the threshold for electroconvulsions which was associated with a slight increment of brain GABA levels. The activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase was significantly elevated whereas GABA aminotransferase was not affected. After withdrawal of VPA, a delayed effect on seizure threshold was observed which extended to time periods where VPA could no longer be detected in the brain, but 2-en-VPA was still present.
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PMID:Valproic acid: metabolite concentrations in plasma and brain, anticonvulsant activity, and effects on GABA metabolism during subacute treatment in mice. 681 Jul 78

The intramuscular administration of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [4,5-c] pyridin-3-ol (THPO) delayed the onset of isonicotinic acid hydrazide-induced seizures in very young chicks but not in adult mice, the difference being due to the state of development of the blood-brain-barrier which controls access of the drug to the brain tissue. THPO was also effective in preventing seizures induced in epileptic chicks by intermittent photic stimulation. The anticonvulsant action after combined administration of THPO and gabaculine, an inhibitor of GABA-alpha-oxoglutarate aminotransferase activity, was no greater than the anticonvulsant action of gabaculine alone.
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PMID:Anticonvulsant activity of the glial-selective GABA uptake inhibitor, THPO. 684 84

The rate of cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) turnover was estimated by determining the rate of GABA accumulation following inhibition of GABA transaminase by gamma-vinyl-GABA (1.5 g/kg, i.v.) in paralysed, ventilated rats. During 1 h of bicuculline-induced seizures (1.2 mg/kg, i.v.) the rate of accumulation of cortical GABA level is approximately threefold greater than in the control group receiving gamma-vinyl-GABA alone, suggesting that the GABA shunt activity increases in parallel with the increase in overall cortical metabolic rate observed during bicuculline seizures. Pretreatment with gamma-vinyl-GABA did not affect the bicuculline-induced changes in other major cortical amino acids.
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PMID:Cortical GABA turnover during bicuculline seizures in rats. 687 71

Vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl-GABA or GVG) is an irreversible inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T), which is an enzyme responsible for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) catabolism. Inhibition of GABA catabolism increases brain concentration of GABA, a neural inhibitor. GVG has been found to be a potent new anti-epileptic drug, especially in the treatment of refractory epilepsy, in particular of complex partial seizures. Three patients who developed a severe status epilepitus while on GVG treatment are reported. A possible proconvulsive effect of GVG is hypothesized, which might result from disinhibition in the nigro-collicular pathway due to increased GABA-levels.
Seizure 1995 Jun
PMID:Status epilepticus during vigabatrin treatment: a report of three cases. 767 Jul 70

Previous studies have implicated a decreased efficacy of GABA as an important defect subserving the audiogenic seizures of the genetically epilepsy-prone rat (GEPR-9). The inferior colliculus (IC) is a critical site for audiogenic seizure (AGS) initiation, and the pontine reticular formation (PRF) is implicated in the propagation of AGS and in other generalized seizure models. The present study observed that microinjection of baclofen, a GABA-B receptor agonist, into IC protects against AGS, and blockade of the breakdown of endogenous GABA by gabaculine, a GABA transaminase inhibitor, increased GABA levels and blocked AGS susceptibility in the GEPR-9. Microinjection of baclofen or gabaculine into the PRF reduced AGS severity, but the doses required were considerably greater and the degree of anticonvulsant effect was less. Uptake of [3H]GABA into GEPR-9 synaptosomes from the IC is significantly increased as compared to normal, which could contribute to the diminished effectiveness of GABA in the GEPR-9. Previous studies indicate that GABA-A receptor agonists block AGS with IC microinjection, and recent data indicate that blockade of GABA uptake in this nucleus significantly reduced AGS severity. These data taken together strongly support the critical importance of the defect in GABA function in the IC in modulating susceptibility to audiogenic seizure initiation in the GEPR-9.
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PMID:GABA in the inferior colliculus plays a critical role in control of audiogenic seizures. 800 65


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