The connection between absence-like seizures and hypothermia induced by penicillin: possible implication on other animal models of petit mal epilepsy

Brain Research
Z S OstojićR Veskov

Abstract

In this study we investigated the relationship between penicillin-induced hypothermia and petit mal epilepsy induced by this proconvulsant antibiotic. In order to find a possible dose-dependent relationship, we used two doses: 1500.000 and 1000.000 U/kg b.wt., both known as being sufficient to induce absence-like attacks with subsequent spike and wave discharges (SWD) in electrocorticogram (ECoG). Because of experimental data suggesting penicillin binding to benzodiazepine receptor recognition site, we also studied penicillin-induced changes in body temperature after diazepam pretreatment. Results of this study clearly show that penicillin in doses known to induce petit mal-like epilepsy concomitantly induces statistically significant dose-dependent decrease in body temperature. Pretreatment with diazepam completely prevents both penicillin-induced hypothermia and SWDs. On the other hand, both the diazepam and mixed diazepam + penicillin treatments did not significantly alter body temperature. These results suggest, however, that at least some of the penicillin effects described could be assigned to its binding to the benzodiazepine receptor recognition site at GABA(A) ionophore. This may have an important clinical implication ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 11, 2007·Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology·Dragan HrncićOlivera Stanojlović

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