Immature rat convulsions and long-term effects on hippocampal cholinergic neurotransmission.

Abstract

Generalized tonic-clonic convulsions were induced on 2 consecutive days by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in immature rats (postnatal days 10 and 20), and hippocampal slices were prepared at different intervals post-injection. The anticholinesterase eserine provoked interictal-like discharges in the CA3 area of PTZ-injected rats (19/33), but not in controls (0/15), an effect mimicked by carbachol and reversed by atropine. This enhanced response to eserine was recorded in slices from 25-100% of the PTZ-injected rats, the percentage varying with the age at injection and post-injection interval. These results suggest that seizures in immature brain may have long-term consequences in cholinergic neurotransmission, converting a rise in endogenous ACh into an epileptogenic stimulus, which in turn would presumably facilitate the recurrence of seizures.

• Authors: S Meilleur, L Carmant, C Psarropoulou
• Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport) Vol. 11 Issue 3 Pg. 521-4 (Feb 28 2000) ISSN: 0959-4965 [Print] England
• PMID: 10718307 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• Convulsants
• Physostigmine
• Acetylcholine
• Pentylenetetrazole

Topics

• Acetylcholine (metabolism)
• Animals
• Animals, Newborn (physiology)
• Cholinergic Fibers (drug effects, physiology)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Convulsants
• Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials (drug effects)
• Hippocampus (drug effects, physiopathology)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Pentylenetetrazole
• Physostigmine (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Seizures (chemically induced, physiopathology)
• Synaptic Transmission (drug effects)
• Time Factors