Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy
Volume 19, Issue 5 , Pages 296-299, June 2010

Levetiracetam in submaximal subcutaneous pentylentetrazol-induced seizures in rats

  • Giangennaro Coppola

      Affiliations

    • Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Second University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, Naples, Italy. Tel.: +39 081 5666695; fax: +39 081 5666694.
    • ,
  • Salvatore Arcieri

      Affiliations

    • Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Italy
    • ,
  • Alfredo D’Aniello

      Affiliations

    • Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Italy
    • ,
  • Tullio Messana

      Affiliations

    • Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Italy
    • ,
  • Alberto Verrotti

      Affiliations

    • Section of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy
    • ,
  • Giuseppe Signoriello

      Affiliations

    • Department of Public Health, Second University of Naples, Italy
    • ,
  • Antonio Pascotto

      Affiliations

    • Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Italy

Received 17 November 2009; received in revised form 28 February 2010; accepted 18 March 2010. published online 20 April 2010.

Abstract 

Despite anticonvulsant efficacy in animal models of generalized epilepsy, levetiracetam was not effective in the maximal subcutaneous PTZ model in mice and rats.

Aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) against submaximal, s.c. MET test (PTZ at the dose of 70mg/kg) acute seizures in Wistar rats, in comparison to valproic acid (VPA).

Thirty male Wistar rats (P42) were divided in three drug-treatment groups (10 rats in each group) as follows: valproic acid, levetiracetam, and controls. All animals were tested for seizure threshold at age P50. VPA (110mg/kg) and LEV (108mg/kg) were freshly dissolved in saline and injected i.p. in 2–3ml/kg, 15 and 30min, respectively, before pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) injection at the dose of 70mg/kg.

The average latency of the seizure type 3 (generalized clonic seizure with loss of righting reflexes) significantly differed between controls and the drug-treated animal groups (p≤0.02). The average duration of the seizure type 2 (threshold seizure) was significantly longer in both groups compared to controls (<0.02).

In conclusion, LEV plays a role against seizures triggered by subcutaneous PTZ injection given at submaximal doses in rats, as demonstrated by a significant increase in duration of the seizure type 2 (threshold seizure).

Keywords: Rats, Levetiracetam, Valproic acid, Subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol, Seizure threshold

 

PII: S1059-1311(10)00058-0

doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2010.03.004

Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy
Volume 19, Issue 5 , Pages 296-299, June 2010

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