NEUROCHEMICAL STUDIES WITH THE NOVEL ANTICONVULSANT LEVETIRACETAM IN MOUSE-BRAIN

Levetiracetam is a novel antiepileptic agent with a wide spectrum of a ctivity against experimental and clinical seizures. The mechanism of i ts anticonvulsant action remains to be determined. We have investigate d the effects of levetiracetam on several gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAB A)-related neurochemical parameters in mouse brain. Adult male mice we re randomised into two groups and administered levetiracetam (0-300 mg /kg) intraperitoneally either as a single dose or twice daily for 5 da ys. Four hours after the final dose, animals were killed and their bra ins removed. Brain tissues were analysed for concentrations of GABA, g lutamate and glutamine and for the activities of GABA-transaminase and glutamic acid decarboxylase. Single dose and repeated levetiracetam t reatments were without effect on all of the parameters investigated. T he anticonvulsant action of levetiracetam is unlikely to be mediated v ia an action on the GABAergic system. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.