Biomaterial Database

Effects of anticonvulsants on hyperthermia-induced seizures in the rat pup. 1984

J E Olson, and M S Scher, and D Holtzman

We studied the effects of phenobarbital (PB), valproic acid (VPA), and phenytoin (PHT) on the electroencephalograms and behaviorally defined seizure threshold temperatures in rat pups exposed to ambient hyperthermia on the fifth day of life. Animals injected with 10, 20, or 40 micrograms PB/g body weight (GBW) or 80, 150, or 300 micrograms VPA/GBW daily from the second day of life showed seizure temperature thresholds that were about 1.0 degree C higher than those of controls. Pups injected with PHT had thresholds that were equal to or lower than those in controls despite blood levels greater than 20 micrograms/ml. Preictal rhythmic sharp wave activity appeared in VPA-injected animals at temperatures below the threshold temperature. All experimental animals showed electrographic epileptiform activity at the threshold temperatures. We conclude that this animal model shows similar anticonvulsant efficacies to those found in human febrile seizures. This model may be useful in determining the efficacy of potentially useful anticonvulsant drugs and their mechanisms of action.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010634	Phenobarbital	A barbituric acid derivative that acts as a nonselective central nervous system depressant. It potentiates GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID action on GABA-A RECEPTORS, and modulates chloride currents through receptor channels. It also inhibits glutamate induced depolarizations.	Phenemal,Phenobarbitone,Phenylbarbital,Gardenal,Hysteps,Luminal,Phenobarbital Sodium,Phenobarbital, Monosodium Salt,Phenylethylbarbituric Acid,Acid, Phenylethylbarbituric,Monosodium Salt Phenobarbital,Sodium, Phenobarbital
D010672	Phenytoin	An anticonvulsant that is used to treat a wide variety of seizures. It is also an anti-arrhythmic and a muscle relaxant. The mechanism of therapeutic action is not clear, although several cellular actions have been described including effects on ion channels, active transport, and general membrane stabilization. The mechanism of its muscle relaxant effect appears to involve a reduction in the sensitivity of muscle spindles to stretch. Phenytoin has been proposed for several other therapeutic uses, but its use has been limited by its many adverse effects and interactions with other drugs.	Diphenylhydantoin,Fenitoin,Phenhydan,5,5-Diphenylhydantoin,5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione,Antisacer,Difenin,Dihydan,Dilantin,Epamin,Epanutin,Hydantol,Phenytoin Sodium,Sodium Diphenylhydantoinate,Diphenylhydantoinate, Sodium
D001831	Body Temperature	The measure of the level of heat of a human or animal.	Organ Temperature,Body Temperatures,Organ Temperatures,Temperature, Body,Temperature, Organ,Temperatures, Body,Temperatures, Organ
D003294	Seizures, Febrile	Seizures that occur during a febrile episode. It is a common condition, affecting 2-5% of children aged 3 months to five years. An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance has been identified in some families. The majority are simple febrile seizures (generally defined as generalized onset, single seizures with a duration of less than 30 minutes). Complex febrile seizures are characterized by focal onset, duration greater than 30 minutes, and/or more than one seizure in a 24 hour period. The likelihood of developing epilepsy (i.e., a nonfebrile seizure disorder) following simple febrile seizures is low. Complex febrile seizures are associated with a moderately increased incidence of epilepsy. (From Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p784)	Convulsions, Febrile,Febrile Seizures,Pyrexial Seizure,Febrile Convulsion Seizure,Febrile Fit,Fever Convulsion,Fever Seizure,Pyrexial Convulsion,Seizure, Febrile, Complex,Seizure, Febrile, Simple,Convulsion, Febrile,Convulsion, Fever,Convulsion, Pyrexial,Convulsions, Fever,Convulsions, Pyrexial,Febrile Convulsion,Febrile Convulsion Seizures,Febrile Convulsions,Febrile Fits,Febrile Seizure,Fever Convulsions,Fever Seizures,Fit, Febrile,Fits, Febrile,Pyrexial Convulsions,Pyrexial Seizures,Seizure, Febrile,Seizure, Febrile Convulsion,Seizure, Fever,Seizure, Pyrexial,Seizures, Febrile Convulsion,Seizures, Fever,Seizures, Pyrexial
D004056	Differential Threshold	The smallest difference which can be discriminated between two stimuli or one which is barely above the threshold.	Difference Limen,Just-Noticeable Difference,Weber-Fechner Law,Difference Limens,Difference, Just-Noticeable,Differences, Just-Noticeable,Differential Thresholds,Just Noticeable Difference,Just-Noticeable Differences,Law, Weber-Fechner,Limen, Difference,Limens, Difference,Threshold, Differential,Thresholds, Differential,Weber Fechner Law
D004195	Disease Models, Animal	Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases.	Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D004569	Electroencephalography	Recording of electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain, or placed within the substance of the brain.	EEG,Electroencephalogram,Electroencephalograms
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors