Effect of Seizures and Anticonvulsant Agents on Hippocampal RNA Concentration

Abstract

Epileptogenic stimulation of the fornix during 25 min caused a fall of total hippocampal RNA concentration in rats. This fall was prevented by the preadministration of phenobarbital, trimethadione, diphenylhydantoin or cannabidiol, which, however, were unable to block seizure discharges in most cases. The administration of any of these anticonvulsant agents to awake animals had no effect on neocortical and hippocampal RNA levels. Generalized convulsions provoked in awake animals by metrazol, electroshock or hyponatremia also had no effect on neocortical or hippocampal RNA.

Ethnomedical, Botanical and Phytochemical Aspects of Natural Hallucinogens

“…Likewise, the beneficial effect of Cannabis smoking in the treatment of glaucoma is difficult to dismiss (Hepler and Frank 1971;Hepler et al 1972;Shapiro 1974). The analgesic (Buxbaum 1972;Bicher and Mechoulam 1968;Cortex Jr. et al 1966;Kaymakcalan et al 1974;Kosersky et al 1973;Parker and Dubas 1972), antiinflammatory (Kosersky et al 1973;Sofia et al 1974), anticonvulsant effects (Carlini et al 1973;Cely et al 1974;Chesher and Jackson 1974;Corcoran et al 1973;Karler 1973;Karler et al 1973Karler et al , 1974Man and Conscroe 1973;McCaughran et al 1974;Mines et al 1973;Sofia et al 1971;Tannhauser and Izquierdo 1974;Turkanis et al 1974;Wada et al 1973), and antitumour activity (Bhargava 1978;Braude andSzara 1976a, 1976b;Carchman et al 1976;Desoize and Nahas 1976;Harris et al 1974Harris et al , 1976 of certain of the cannabinoids in laboratory animals might justify clinical trial in man. It has been suggested that Cannabis might be useful as an agent in rehabilitating alcoholics (Scher 1971) and in the treatment of asthma (Arey 1973) as well as for other conditions (Beaconsfield et al 1975).…”