Nigral infusions of muscimol or bicuculline facilitate seizures in developing rats

Sperber, EF; Wong, BY; Wurpel, JN; Moshé, SL

HERO ID

5383174

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1987

Language

English

PMID

3440204

HERO ID 5383174
In Press No
Year 1987
Title Nigral infusions of muscimol or bicuculline facilitate seizures in developing rats
Authors Sperber, EF; Wong, BY; Wurpel, JN; Moshé, SL
Journal Brain Research
Volume 465
Issue 1-2
Page Numbers 243-250
Abstract The substantia nigra (SN) appears to be a crucial site involved in the modification of seizures. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of the GABA nigral system in the expression of seizures by comparing the effects of multiple doses of a GABA agonist (muscimol) and a GABA antagonist (bicuculline methobromide) on the development of flurothyl seizures in 16-day-old rat pups. The drugs were infused bilaterally either in the SN or dorsal to the SN. An additional group of pups were infused with bicuculline in the corpus striatum. Results indicate that both drugs facilitated the development of seizures in a dose-related manner when infused into the SN. Infusions of muscimol dorsal to the SN had no effect on seizure latencies while infusions of bicuculline dorsal to SN or corpus striatum still increased the susceptibility of rat pups to seizures. The data suggest that only the effects of muscimol on seizures are specific for the SN and that early in life muscimol may exert its proconvulsant effects via a different receptor site or mechanism than bicuculline.
Doi 10.1016/0165-3806(87)90245-8
Pmid 3440204
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English