ANTICONVULSANT EFFICACY SAFETY PROPERTIES OF 2-AMINO-N-(1,2-DIPHENYLETHYL)ACETAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE

mino-N-(1,2-diphenylethyl)-acetamide-hydrochloride (FPL 13950) was pro filed preclinically in rodents for efficacy against convulsions, as we ll as for acute safety/behavioral observations. FPL 13950 exhibited go od oral efficacy and duration of action with respect to prevention of seizures elicited by maximal electroshock-shock in both rats and mice. Tolerance to protection against maximal electroshock and hexobarbital -induced sleep-time was not evident after subchronic drug administrati on. FPL 13950 also prevented convulsions/mortality in mice after i.v. dosing with N-methyl-D, L-aspartate, however, it was ineffective again st other types of chemically induced convulsions, as well as bicorneal kindling. High oral doses produced neural impairment in both mice and rats and hyperactivity in rats. Sequential administration of yet high er doses elicited tonic/clonic convulsions culminating in death. Durin g i.v. infusion of metrazol in mice, high i.p. doses of FPL 13950 shor tened the latency to first twitch and clonus. No increase in the start le response or phencyclidine-like behavior was evident after oral dosi ng in rats.