We tested the ability of dapsone (4,4'-diamino-diphenyl sulfone) to at
tenuate kainic acid-induced seizures. We observed that 9.375 and 12.5
mg/kg doses of dapsone administered 30 min before a single kainic acid
(10 mg/kg) i.p. injection were able to decrease the time of electroen
cephalographic seizures by 52% and 82%, respectively, as compared with
rats administered with 10 mg/kg kainic acid only. The 12.5 mg/kg dose
of dapsone was also able to diminish both kainic acid-evoked body and
head shakes (58%) and kainic acid-induced mortality (75%). These resu
lts suggest that dapsone could be used in clinical trials as anticonvu
lsant.