Seizures bicuculline-induced

Whereas the genetic and kindling models have been widely used to investigate possible neurotransmitter defects that cause different types of epilepsy, rodent models in which seizures are induced by electroshock, or by convulsant drugs such as pentylenetetrazol (also called pentetrazol, leptazol), picrotoxin or bicuculline, are mainly used in screening procedures to identify potential anticonvulsants. 

Bicuculline-induced seizures SR141716A is proconvulsive in Mice FAAH knockout Anandamide neurotoxic and proconvulsive mice, but this effect is not mediated SR141716A proconvulsive via CBj receptors (144). FAAH knockouts more sensitive (144)... 

Ingvar, M., Nilsson, B., Siesjo, B. K., 1981 Local cerebral blood flow in the brain during bicuculline-induced seizures and the modulating influence of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Acta Physiol. Scand. Ill, 205-212. 

Watt 62), one of the earlier researchers to recognize the potential of African plants in improving mental health, reported the use of Cotyledon orbiculata (Crassulaceae) leaves to treat epilepsy. Again, in vivo studies have demonstrated both aqueous and methanol extracts of C. orbiculata have anticonvulsant properties (moderate protection against pentylenetetrazole, bicuculline, picrotoxin and A-methyl-dl-aspartic induced seizures in mice) 63). However, the ethanolic extract did not show in vitro GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor binding activity 64). 

Experimental models for seizures can be broadly divided into two groups models for acute seizures and for chronic focal epilepsy. The acute models are responsible for much of our understanding of the mechanisms of epilepsy. They involve the administration of drugs such as picrotoxin, bicuculline, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and 4-aminopyridine to previously healthy animals. Since they are models of convulsions rather than epilepsy, they relate to seizures induced by drugs or by metabolic derangements in humans. 

Schneider, P.G., de Lores Arnaiz, G.R., 2013. Ketamine prevents seizures and reverses changes in muscarinic receptor induced by bicuculline in rats. Neurochem. Int 62, 258-264. 

Finally, Johansson (1981) has found that indomethacin pre-treatment significantly reduced protein extravasation into the brain after induction of hypertension with adrenaline but not after bicuculline seizures. This protective effect of indomethacin in adrenaline-induced hypertension is probably related to the vasoconstrictor effect of the drug. In bicuculline seizures, such an effect may be overruled by the metabolically induced cerebral vasodilation. 

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