Hyperthermic seizures enhance responsiveness to pentylenetetrazole and induce cognitive dysfunction: Protective effect of 3-alkynyl selenophene

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 90; no. 17-18; pp. 666 - 672
• Main Authors: Wilhelm, Ethel Antunes, Souza, Ana Cristina Guerra, Gai, Bibiana Mozzaquatro, Chagas, Pietro M., Roehrs, Juliano Alex, Nogueira, Cristina Wayne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.05.2012
• Subjects: 3-alkynyl selenophene; air; Animals; Anticonvulsants - pharmacology; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; cognition; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - prevention & control; Convulsants - pharmacology; Diazepam; Diazepam - pharmacology; Diazepam - therapeutic use; Hyperthermia; Hyperthermia, Induced - adverse effects; Male; Memory; Memory - drug effects; Motor Activity - drug effects; Organoselenium Compounds - pharmacology; Organoselenium Compounds - therapeutic use; Pentylenetetrazole - pharmacology; pretreatment; protective effect; Rats; Rats, Wistar; seizures; Seizures, Febrile - complications; Seizures, Febrile - etiology; Seizures, Febrile - prevention & control; Selenium; 3-alkynyl selenophene; Selenium; Hyperthermia; Memory; Diazepam
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2012.03.005

In this study we investigated the effect of pre-treatment with 3-alkynyl selenophene (3-ASP) against the increase in responsiveness to pentylenetetrazole [PTZ seizure threshold] and cognitive dysfunction induced by experimental febrile seizures (FS). The effects of 3-ASP were compared to those of diazepam (DZP). Young rats, at postnatal day 21, developed seizures after exposure to a stream of heated air to approximately 41°C. A non-spatial long-term memory and PTZ seizure threshold were determined 30days after FS. The behavioural seizures were stereotyped followed by facial automatisms, often followed by body flexion. Young rats were pre-treated with 3-ASP (50 and 100mg/kg; per oral route), DZP (1 and 5mg/kg; intraperitoneally) or vehicle. 3-ASP and DZP pre-treatments were not effective in protecting against seizures induced by FS. 3-ASP pre-treatment protected against the increase in responsiveness to PTZ and cognitive dysfunction induced by FS. DZP pre-treatment was effective in protecting against the increase in responsiveness to PTZ, but not, against the impaired memory induced by FS. 3-ASP pre-treatment protected against impairment of memory performance in the step-down passive avoidance task and the increase in the susceptibility to seizures caused by FS early in life of rats.