Drug Week via NewsEdge :

2008 SEP 12 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers detail in 'Amiloride delays the onset of pilocarpine-induced seizures in rats,' new data in seizure (see also Seizure Therapy). "Recent evidence suggests that amiloride, a potent and nonselective blocker of acid-sensing ion channels, suppresses generalized seizures induced by maximal electroshock and pentylenetrazole. Here I further determined and quantified the effects of amiloride on the occurrence of limbic seizures and status epilepticus-induced by intraperitoneal administration of pilocarpine, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist," investigators in the United States report.

"Pretreatment with various doses (5, 10, 30, 100, and 200 mg/kg) of amiloride significantly delayed the onset of the first episode of limbic seizures and the occurrence of status epilepticus following administration of pilocarpine (380 mg/kg). At the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg, amiloride suppressed limbic seizures in 33% of pilocarpine-treated animals and significantly reduced the seizure severity score in 67% of the remaining animals," wrote P. N'Gouemo and colleagues, Georgetown University.

The researchers concluded: "These findings suggest that amiloride may modulate seizure generation and propagation, probably via mechanisms involving acid-sensing ion channels in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy."

N'Gouemo and colleagues published their study in Brain Research (Amiloride delays the onset of pilocarpine-induced seizures in rats. Brain Research, 2008;1222():230-2).

For additional information, contact P. N'Gouemo, Georgetown University Medical Center, Dept. of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, 3900 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20057 USA..

The publisher of the journal Brain Research can be contacted at: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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