The effects of
delta sleep-inducing peptide (
DSIP) on
metaphit- (1-(1(3-isothiocyanatophenyl)-cyclohexyl) (piperidine)-) induced audiogenic
seizures in adult male Wistar rats were studied. The animals were divided into four experimental groups: 1. saline injected; 2.
metaphit administered (10 mg x kg (-1)); 3.
metaphit administered plus
DSIP injected (dose range 0.1-1 mg x kg (-1)) and 4.
DSIP injected (1 mg x kg (-1)). Upon treatment, the rats were exposed to sound stimulation ( 100 +/- 3
dB, 60 s) at hourly intervals and the incidence and severity (running, clonus and tonus) of
seizures were analyzed. In most animals,
metaphit led to EEG abnormalities and elicited epileptiform activity recorded as spikes, polyspikes and spike-wave complex and increased power spectra. Time-course studies revealed the peak of convulsive activity 7-12 h after the injection in
metaphit-treated rats.
DSIP acted as an
anticonvulsant and the most potent anticonvulsive dose of 1 mg x kg (-1)significantly increased power spectra of deltawaves (2-11 h) in comparison with the saline-control group and decreased the incidence and duration of convulsive response, as well as mean seizure grade of
metaphit-induced convulsions. These results suggest that
DSIP should be considered as having potential
anticonvulsant activity in this animal model.