Antiabsence effects of carbenoxolone in two genetic animal models of absence epilepsy (WAG/Rij rats and lh/lh mice).

2005

Carbenoxolone (CBX), the succinyl ester of glycyrrhetinic acid, is an inhibitor of gap junctional intercellular communication. We have tested its possible effects upon two genetic animal models of epilepsy (WAG/Rij rats and lethargic (lh/lh) mice). Systemic administration of CBX was unable to significantly affect the occurrence of absence seizures in WAG/Rij rats. In particular, intravenous (5-40 mg/kg) or intraperitoneal (i.p.; 10-80 mg/kg) administration of CBX was unable to significantly modify the number and duration of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) in WAG/Rij rats, whereas the bilateral microinjection (0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 microg/0.5 microl) of CBX into nucleus reticularis thalami (NRT)…