Effects of L-Arginine on Penicillin-Induced Epileptiform Activity in Rats

Abstract

ABSTRACT-It has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Data are, however controversial because it is not clear whether NO has pro-or anticonvulsant effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NO on penicillin G-induced epileptiform activity. The left cerebral cortex was exposed by craniotomy in urethane-anesthetized Wistar rats. The epileptic activity was produced by intraperitoneal injection of penicillin G (3 million U / kg, i.p.). The ECoG (electrocorticogram) activity was displayed on a four-channel recorder. At 39.7 ± 5.4 min after penicillin administration, large amplitude sharp waves appeared in the ECoG. Mean spike frequency and mean spike amplitude were calculated as 29.5 ± 3.2 / min and 865 ± 91 m V, respectively, at the 55th min. 7-Nitroindazole (60 mg/kg, i.p.) injection 30 min before penicillin G administration significantly reduced the latency of epileptiform activity. Intracerebroventricular administration of L-arginine (300 mg/2 ml, i.c.v.) and sodium nitroprusside (100 mg / 2 m l, i.c.v.) suppressed epileptiform activity. Saline (2 ml) and D-arginine (300 mg/ 2 ml, i.c.v.) administration into the cerebral ventricle were completely ineffective on epileptiform activity (P<0.01). These findings suggest that NO may be an endogenous antiepileptic substance.

The Role of Nitric Oxide in Homocysteine Thiolactone-Induced Seizures in Adult Rats

“…6). Similar to our findings, potentiations of the EEG epileptiform activity by the decreased NO levels were reported in models of aminopyridine, penicillin and methylmalonate-induced seizures (Boda and Szente 1996;Marangoz and Bagirici 2001;Ayyildiz et al 2007;Royes et al 2007). …”

“…It was found that L-arginine in doses similar to ours acted as anticonvulsant in numerous models of epilepsy such as kainate (Przegalinski et al 1994), lithium-pilocarpine (Noyan and Gulec 2000), the sound-induced convulsions in DBA/2 mice, picrotoxin (Paul and Ekambaram 2005) and the penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats (Marangoz and Bagirici 2001;Ayyildiz et al 2007). Tutka et al (2007) reported the involvement of NO in nicotine convulsions in mice.…”

Epileptogenic Activity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Antibiotics in Rats

“…15) On the other hand, in the present study it has been found that teicoplanin and fosfomycin caused a severe epileptic seizure in rats, but none of these antibiotics possess beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure. Therefore, it may be assumed that a beta-lactam ring is not the only contributor to the epileptogenic properties.…”

Paleocerebellar electrical stimulationinduces the reduction of seizures and the development of absence epilepsy in rats with penicillin- induced epilepsy

“…benzyl penicillin sodium salt administration (300.000 IU/100 g, i.p. in a volume of 0.5 ml of saline) (Marangoz and Bağirici, 2001).…”