Effects of prostacyclin and 6-keto PGF1α on electrically induced convulsions in mice

Abstract

Intracerebroventricular administration of prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) was shown to block the incidence of tonic convulsions in mice. Prostacyclin was administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) to conscious mice prior to a transcorneal maximal electroshock (MES) or supra-maximal electroshock (SMES) as previously described (1). PGI 2 i.c.v. blocked the tonic hindlimb extension (THE) and protected the animals from death induced by MES with an ED 50 of 6.27 (2.53–11.10) μg/mouse i.c.v. The i.c.v. administration of its degradation product 6-keto PGF 1α had no effect on the incidence of tonic convulsions but did reduce the duration of THE significantly. When PGI 2 was administered intraperitoneally in doses as high as 2 mg/kg it did not block the THE. However, the duration of the THE as well as mortality were reduced by doses ranging from 0.25–2.0 mg/kg i.p. Prostacyclin caused a significant dose-related (p<.001) decrease in the duration of the THE with SMES in doses of 20–140 μg/mouse i.c.v. No concomitant decrease in the incidence of tonic convulsions was found against SMES.