J. Kragh et al., SEIZURE THRESHOLD TO LIDOCAINE IS DECREASED FOLLOWING REPEATED ECS (ELECTROCONVULSIVE SHOCK), Psychopharmacology, 111(4), 1993, pp. 495-498
Seizure susceptibility to lidocaine was investigated in rats which had
received repeated ECS (electroconvulsive shock). In the first experim
ent three groups of rats received an ECS daily for 18 days, an ECS wee
kly for 18 weeks, and 18 sham treatments, respectively. Twelve weeks a
fter the last ECS all rats received a lidocaine challenge (LC) in the
form of an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of lidocaine (65 mg/kg). Aft
er the injection the animals were observed for occurrence of motor sei
zures. A total of 67% (10/15), 47% (7/15), and 0% (0/18) of the daily,
weekly, and sham groups, respectively, had motor seizures in response
to the LC. In the second experiment five groups of rats received an E
CS daily for 0, 1. 6, 18, and 36 days, respectively. Eighteen weeks af
ter the last ECS all rats received an LC and 0% (0/15), 13% (2/15). 20
% (3/15), 53% (8/15), and 58% (7/12), respectively, developed seizures
in response to the LC. In the third experiment two groups of rats rec
eived daily ECS and sham-ECS, respectively. Twenty-four hours after th
e last ECS all rats received an LC. A total of 60% (9/15) of the ECS g
roup and 0% (0/10) of the sham-ECS group had seizures in response to t
he LC. The study demonstrates a decrease in seizure threshold to lidoc
aine in ECS-pretreated rats as early as 1 day and as late as 18 weeks
following the last ECS, and a positive correlation between the number
of ECS administered and the proportion of animals having seizures in r
esponse to the LC was found. The convulsant effect of lidocaine has be
en proposed to be mediated through binding on the GABA receptor-ionoph
ore complex. Therefore this study suggests that ECS causes long-lastin
g, possibly permanent, changes within the GABA-ergic system.