alpha-Guanidinoglutaric acid (alpha-GGA) was first isolated from the c
obalt-induced epileptic focus of cat cerebral cortex by us in 1980. al
pha-GGA could induce behavioral convulsion as well as electroencephalo
graphy-documented epileptic seizures, when it was administered into th
e brain. alpha-GGA was also found to be a potent nitric oxide synthase
inhibitor, suggesting that suppression of this activity may result in
epileptic seizures. It is now observed that alpha-GGA generates react
ive oxygen species as superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in aqeuous solu
tion. These findings suggest that reactive oxygen species may damage c
ell membranes, thus leading to neuronal depolarization, which is close
ly related to epileptogenesity.