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

Acetylcholine (ACh) injected into the cortex induces epileptic seizures which spread very slowly, with a propagation speed of some millimeters per minute over the cortex. To study this propagation mechanism the ECoG recorded with two rows of equally spaced electrodes, one row on the homolateral the other on the contralateral hemisphere, was analysed using correlation techniques and spectral analytical methods. Rabbits were used as experimental animals. If a cortical area is involved in the seizure of rhythmic fast and low activity of about 30 Hz is observed. The frequency decreases discontinuously and simultaneously the amplitudes increase. After one or more seconds the activity seems to stabilize showing a tonic pattern of about 9 Hz but a few seconds later this tonic pattern is replaced by an irregular seizure activity. This mechanism was found for the spreading of the primary focus as well as for the spreading of the mirror focus on the contralateral hemisphere which occurs about 2 hours after the injection of ACh. The analysis of the approximately 9 Hz tonic period yielded the following results: at the beginning, the 9 Hz activity of the cortical area already involved leads the activity of the adjacent area which is going to be involved. High coherences were found between both areas during this state. Then the coherence decrease, indicating an uncoupling of the two areas. The subsequent increase of coherence indicates a renewed coupling, but now the newly involved area is leading. This was found by correlation and phase analysis. From these results it can be concluded that the propagation of such seizures is based on a stepwise propagation of an active focus and that the propagation is strongly correlated with certain graphoelements and rhythms.
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PMID:[The propagation of acetylcholine-induced seizures (author's transl)]. 11 65

This study examined the effects of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on interstitial concentrations of serotonin (5-HT), its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), acetylcholine and choline, and the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) in the hippocampus of freely moving rats using online brain microdialysis. The effects of ECS on 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and HVA were compared to the effects of seizures induced by the convulsant agent flurothyl. Interstitial concentrations of 5-HT increased several fold in response to ECS and this increase was accompanied by a significant increase in the concentration of HVA. Acetylcholine and choline concentrations were also increased significantly by ECS. The ECS-induced increase in interstitial 5-HT was markedly reduced when the voltage-dependent sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 mumol/L) was added in the perfusion solution, indicating that the observed increase was of neuronal origin. Interstitial concentrations of 5-HT also increased in response to flurothyl-induced seizures and this increase was accompanied by a significant increase in the concentration of HVA. These results provide direct in vivo evidence that interstitial concentrations of 5-HT increase several fold in response to both ECS- and flurothyl-induced seizures. These observations are discussed in relation to the hypothesized role of 5-HT in ECS-induced memory deficits.
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PMID:Neurochemical effects of electrically and chemically induced seizures: an in vivo microdialysis study in the rat hippocampus. 138 32

Recent studies in this laboratory have demonstrated that intramuscular injection of the irreversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, soman (pinacolylmethylphosphonofluoridate), produces a rapid (1-2 h) and profound depletion (70% of control) of norepinephrine (NE) in the olfactory bulb and forebrain. NE is decreased only in convulsing animals. As NE-containing locus coeruleus (LC) neurons provide the only NE input to the olfactory bulb and the major NE innervation of the forebrain, the reduction of NE suggests that soman may cause tonic activation of LC neurons leading to rapid depletion of NE. Activation of LC may result from: (i) facilitation of cholinergic transmission in LC; (ii) soman-induced activation of excitatory inputs to LC; or (iii) generalized activation of LC neurons due to seizures. The present experiments were designed to assess these alternatives. We examined whether LC neuronal activity, c-fos expression, and AChE staining are altered after peripheral (systemic) or direct intracoerulear injection of soman in anesthetized rats. Both modes of soman administration rapidly and potently increase the spontaneous discharge rate of LC neurons. This activation was associated with a desynchronization of the electroencephalogram, but not with seizures. The discharge of LC neurons remained elevated at all postsoman intervals examined (up to 2 h) and was rapidly and completely reversed by systemic injection of the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine hydrochloride, but not by the nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine. Both systemic and intracoerulear soman administration completely inhibited AChE staining in LC and rapidly induced the expression of c-fos in LC neurons. These results demonstrate that soman potently and tonically activates LC neurons. This effect appears to be mediated by direct inhibition of AChE in LC leading to a rapid accumulation of ACh. Unhydrolyzed ACh tonically activates LC neurons via muscarinic receptors. Soman-induced activation of LC neurons does not require seizures. We conclude that depletion of forebrain and olfactory bulb NE after systemic administration of soman results from tonic hypercholinergic stimulation of LC.
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PMID:Tonic activation of locus coeruleus neurons by systemic or intracoerulear microinjection of an irreversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor: increased discharge rate and induction of C-fos. 138 4

Male Sprague-Dawley rats when administered sc a sublethal dose of organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibitors such as the nerve agents, soman (100 micrograms/kg, sc), sarin (110 micrograms/kg, sc), tabun (200 micrograms/kg, sc), or VX (12 micrograms/kg, sc), developed seizures and severe muscle fasciculations within 15-20 min, lasting for 4-6 hr. Marked inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and necrotic lesions in skeletal muscles such as soleus, extensor digitorum longus, and diaphragm were evident between 1-24 hr following injection. Pretreatment with memantine HCl (MEM, 18 mg/kg, sc) together with atropine sulfate (ATS, 16 mg/kg, sc), 60 min and 15 min, respectively, prior to nerve agents attenuated AChE inhibition, prevented myonecrosis, and muscle fasciculations as well as other signs of cholinergic toxicity. Pretreatment combining d-tubocurarine (d-TC, 0.075 mg/kg, sc) and ATS (16 mg/kg, sc) prevented the myonecrosis and fasciculation without protecting AChE against inhibition by these nerve agents. Neither MEM, d-TC, nor ATS in the concentration given interfered with the normal behavior of the rats. The role of d-TC and ATS interaction with presynaptic receptors regulating ACh release and MEM's role in modulating neural hyperactivity as protective mechanisms are discussed.
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PMID:Potential of memantine, D-tubocurarine, and atropine in preventing acute toxic myopathy induced by organophosphate nerve agents: soman, sarin, tabun and VX. 147 66

Many of the drugs used in anesthesia and intensive care may cause blockade of the central cholinergic neurotransmission. Acetylcholine is of significance in modulation of the interaction among most other central transmitters. The clinical picture of the central cholinergic blockade, known as the central anticholinergic syndrome (CAS), is identical with the central symptoms of atropine intoxication. This behaviour consists of agitation including seizures, restlessness, hallucinations, disorientation or signs of depression such as stupor, coma and respiratory depression. Such disturbances may be induced by opiates, benzodiazepines, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, ketamine, etomidate, propofol, nitrous oxide, and halogenated inhalation anesthetics as well as by H2-blocking agents such as cimetidine. There is an individual predisposition for CAS--but unpredictable from laboratory findings or other signs. Reports of postanesthetic occurrence of the CAS requiring treatment are not unanimous, varying between 1 and 40%. Differential diagnosis of the CAS includes disorders of glucose and electrolyte metabolism, severe hormonal imbalance, respiratory disorders (hypoxia, hypercarbia), hypothermia, hyperthermia and neuropsychiatric diseases (cerebral hypoxia, stroke, catatony, acute psychosis). The CAS may considerably impair the postanesthetic period especially when agitation is prevalent, which may endanger the patient or the surgical results. The diagnosis is confirmed ex iuvantibus by the sudden increase in the acetylcholine level in the brain. This is achieved with physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor able to easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Its peripheral muscarinic effects are minimal. Postanesthetic CAS can be prevented by administration of physostigmine during the anesthesia procedure. During intensive care (IC), agitated forms of CAS may occur in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, particularly during prolonged high-dose sedation. Artificial ventilation of such patients becomes very difficult and muscle relaxation may be necessary. In these cases of IC-CAS, physostigmine is of value and has proven beneficial during weaning from mechanical ventilation. Dealing with the CAS for more than a decade has improved knowledge of the central cholinergic transmission. For example, it can be said that CAS occurs alongside general anesthesia, being no more than a frequent side-effect. Furthermore, acetylcholine is involved in nociception through the endorphinergic and the serotoninergic systems. There is a close relation between the central cholinergic transmission and actions of nitrous oxide. Moreover, cholinergic transmission is involved in withdrawal from (among others) alcohol, opiates, hallucinogens and nitrous oxide. In some intoxications with psychoactive agents, physostigmine is useful for reversal of the central nervous symptoms of the acute intoxication itself. In addition it can be used for prevention of some withdrawal states. In
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PMID:Central anticholinergic syndrome (CAS) in anesthesia and intensive care. 268 49

Piperidine (Pip) is a normal constituent in mammalian brain, affects synaptic mechanism in the CNS, and influences neural mechanisms governing regulation of emotional behavior and extrapyramidal function. In addition, there are enzyme systems within the brain that synthesize and metabolize Pip, and uptake and storage mechanisms for Pip are found in the nerve endings. Pip is highly concentrated in the pituitary and pineal glands, hippocampus and caudate nucleus among the regions of the brain. Levels of Pip in the brain show physiological variations associated with environmental changes. The levels increase significantly under deep anesthesia. The study on the time relations of the change in brain levels of Pip and the anesthetic activity demonstrates that the level increases prior to the loss of the righting reflex and that the elevated level declines prior to the reappearance of the reflex. Furthermore, Pip levels in the lower brainstem reticular formation show sleep-related changes during REM sleep deprivation and REM sleep rebound that followed. Direct administration of Pip into the hippocampus and amygdala of cats with chronically implanted electrodes and a cannula caused resting and calmness in small doses, and seizure discharge accompanied by hyperemotionality in large doses. Administration into the pontine reticular formation induced REM and NREM sleep. Iontophoretic application produced the excitation and inhibition of single neuron activities in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, cerebellum, and pituitary in anesthetized rats. With no anesthesia, Pip caused the inhibitory action in a higher percentage of the neurons studied, compared with the result obtained under anesthesia. Pip-induced excitation and inhibiton were blocked by tetramethylammonium but little affected by scopolamine. The kinetic study of Pip-induced Cl- current in internally perfused neurons of Aplysia, by using the 'concentration camp' and voltage clamp techniques, revealed that Pip acted on at least two components of nicotinic receptor-Cl- channel complex, and further that Pip could discriminate between the transient and the persistent components of ACh-induced Cl- current. These findings suggest that Pip may have close connections with neuroendocrine as well as neuronal functions, and further, with the mechanisms underlying sleep-consciousness and emotional function. Because of piperidine's multiplex pharmacological activities, the study of piperidine may provide a clue to the discovery of new active drugs and to the elucidation of causes of pathological states relating to the brain function.
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PMID:[Piperidine in the brain: its neurobiological significance]. 269 May 41

Acetylcholine activates both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system. Although the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptor has been well characterized, relatively little is known at the cellular level concerning nicotinic receptor stimulation in brain. Central nicotinic receptors have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, seizure activity, the generation of slow-wave theta rhythm in the hippocampus and the potential abuse liability of nicotine. At the neuronal level, nicotinic agonists have been most often associated with postsynaptically mediated excitation and membrane depolarization at various sites, including Renshaw spinal motoneurons, locus coeruleus and the medial habenular nucleus. Nicotine acting presynaptically can produce either excitation or inhibition indirectly through the release of endogeneous transmitters or modulators. Whereas a direct inhibitory effect of nicotine has been suggested by one in vivo extracellular recording study in rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons, the mechanism(s) underlying this action is not yet known. We now report our findings obtained using in vitro intracellular methods in a submerged brain slice preparation in which application of nicotinic agonists to rat dorsolateral septal neurons reveal a direct membrane hyperpolarization mediated by an increase in potassium conductance.
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PMID:A direct nicotinic receptor-mediated inhibition recorded intracellularly in vitro. 279 67

3-(2-Carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) was synthesized as a rigid analog of 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate, a previously known antagonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) preferring, or NMDA-type, of excitatory amino acid receptor. CPP was found to be a potent, selective and competitive antagonist of NMDA-type receptors. CPP antagonized with an IC50 of 8 muM [3H]ACh release which was evoked from rat striatal brain slices by NMDA (50 muM). In contrast, the release of [3H]ACh evoked by elevated KCI was not inhibited by CPP even at a concentration of 100 muM. The antagonism by CPP of NMDA-evoked [3H]ACh release was competitive, with a pA2 of 5.66 for CPP, compared with a pA2 value of 5.22 for 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate. CPP affected neither the uptake of L-[3H]glutamate nor the inhibition by aconitine of L-[3H]glutamate uptake, suggesting a lack of membrane-stabilizing or local anesthetic effects, and also suggesting that CPP itself may not be taken up through the L-glutamate membrane transporter. Moreover, [3H] CPP was not accumulated by synaptosomes (P2 fraction) which avidly accumulate L-[3H]glutamate, supporting the concept that this NMDA-type receptor antagonist acts at an NMDA-type receptor on the external surface of the plasma membrane. CPP (10 muM) failed to interact with any of 21 other putative neurotransmitter receptors including alpha-[3H]amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid binding (quisqualate-type receptor) and [3H]kainate binding (kainate-type receptor). Audiogenic convulsions in DBA/2 mice were blocked by CPP (ED50 = 1.5 mg/kg i.p.) as were NMDA-induced seizures in CF-1 mice (ED50 = 1.9 mg/kg i.p.). In both strains, CPP impaired the traction reflex at higher doses (ED50 = 6.8 mg/kg and 6.1 mg/kg and 6.1 mg/kg i.p. for DBA/2 and CF-1, respectively). The traction reflex impairment by CPP may be due to muscle relaxant effects of the compound, an explanation supported by the finding that CPP reduced muscle tone as assessed by electromyogram measurement in animals whose muscle tone had been increased by opiate administration. Finally, cerebellar cyclic GMP levels, known to be sensitive to neurotransmission via NMDA-type receptors, were decreased by CPP (ED50 = 4.7 mg/kg i.p.) in mice. In conclusion, based upon the competitive antagonism by CPP of NMDA-evoked [3H] ACh release in vitro and the antagonism of NMDA-induced convulsions in vivo, the data presented are consistent with competitive antagonism of NMDA-type receptors.
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PMID:CPP, a selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type receptor antagonist: characterization in vitro and in vivo. 288 14

The study was aimed at the enlightenment of intracortical spreading mechanisms in focal epileptic seizures produced by local application of Acetylcholine. Experiments were made in rabbits. Epi- and intracortical seizure potentials were recorded simultaneously with special electrodes. The recorded signals were analysed using computer aided methods. The results show, that the spreading of the pathological events does not take place continuously but by successive generation of "active zones" independent of the original focus produced by Acetylcholine. In the epicortical recordings, the development of a new focus is indicated by a functional uncoupling between the superficial layers of the cortical area to be involved and the momentary active focus. This functional uncoupling is due to an activation of the middle cortical layers of this area by the focus. As a first sign, high frequent potentials can be observed in the middle cortical layers accompanied by an amplitude decrease in the superficial layers. In the further development high negative discharges appear in the middle cortical layers which lead to characteristic surface positive potentials. This phase indicates that a new focus has developed, i.e. the discharges are no longer triggered by the previous focus. These processes continue as long as inactive cortical areas are available. From the obtained results it can be assumed with high probability that in contrast to previous assumptions the generation of a new epileptic focus is not initiated via superficial axon collaterals but that other cortical connections must be responsible. Additionally, it has to be taken into account that extra- and/or intracellular changes of ion concentrations as a consequence of the massive synaptic bombardment may be responsible for the independent discharges in the focus.
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PMID:[Analysis of the extension of epileptic discharges in the animal model]. 301 81

1. Drugs have been applied micro-electrophoretically to units in the hippocampal cortex of the anaesthetized cat, and their effects on cell firing were recorded simultaneously.2. L-Glutamate rapidly and powerfully excited hippocampal units, an effect which was quickly reversed on stopping the expelling current. The local application of L-glutamate also excited a fast seizure discharge at 15-50/sec. Both these effects of L-glutamate were strongly depressed by fimbrial stimulation.3. gamma-Aminobutyric acid had a strong depressant action on all the units on which it was tested; the time course of this effect was rapid.4. ACh excited half the units to which it was applied. Characteristically this excitation developed slowly over many seconds and persisted after stopping the expelling current. Most cholinoceptive units were found to be concentrated in the superficial layer of the cortex corresponding to the hippocampal pyramidal cells and their main dendritic processes.5. Atropine selectively blocked the excitation of cholinoceptive units by ACh, but not the excitation by L-glutamate. No cholinoceptive units were blocked by dihydro-beta-erythroidine, though several were selectively blocked by dimethyl (+)-tubocurarine.6. The most usual effect seen with 5-HT was depression, though several units were found to be excited. Some of the units tested with 3-hydroxytyramine (dopamine) or noradrenaline were found to be depressed.
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PMID:Micro-electrophoretic studies of neurones in the cat hippocampus. 594 16


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