EFFECT OF GAMMA-DECANOLACTONE ON GLUTAMATE BINDING IN THE RAT CEREBRAL-CORTEX

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Even though antiepileptic drugs can afford a reasonably satisfactory treatment fo r 80% of diagnosed patients, chronic intractable epi lepsy still affec ts a significant number of people and more effective and less harmful antiepileptic drugs are needed. Previous studies have shown that gamma -decanolactone has dose-dependent sedative effects, including hypnotic , anticonvulsant and hypothermic properties in mice. The present study reports an inhibitory effect of gamma-decanolactone on glutamate bind ing (96.8% with 5 mM) in rat cortex membranes. The non competitive nat ure of glutamate binding inhibition as a neurochemical correlate of th e anticonvulsant activity of gamma-decanolactone may be a relevant mod e of action for further drug development.