Temporal lobe epileptiform activity following systemic administration of 4-aminopyridine in rats.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

  The K(+) channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4AP) induces epileptiform synchronization in brain slices maintained in vitro without interfering with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor-mediated inhibition and, actually, even enhancing it. The hypothesis that similar electrographic epileptiform patterns occur in vivo following systemic 4AP injection was tested here.

Methods

  Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 13) were implanted with bipolar electrodes aimed at the hippocampal CA3 region, entorhinal cortex, subiculum, dentate gyrus, and amygdala. They were then injected with a single dose of 4AP (4-5 mg/kg, i.p.), and video-monitoring/electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were performed.

Key findings

  4AP induced convulsive or nonconvulsive seizures in 12 of 13 rats, a

SUBMITTER: Levesque M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4878895 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature