ANTICONVULSANT EFFECTS OF DIPOTASSIUM CLORAZEPATE ON HIPPOCAMPAL-KINDLED SEIZURES IN RATS

We examined the anticonvulsant properties of dipotassium clorazepate ( DC) against hippocampal kindled seizures in rats. Adult male Wistar ra ts were subjected to kindling 1 week after the implantation of electro des, After five stage 5 seizures were induced, the generalized convuls ion triggering threshold (GST) was determined. Dipotassium clorazepate was administered intraperitoneally in rats that showed two stable sta ge 5 seizures induced at che GST current intensity. Dipotassium cloraz epate at doses oi 1 mg/kg or more produced an anticonvulsant effect, b ut did not readily suppress limbic seizures. Dipotassium clorazepate d id not completely suppress after-discharges (AD) even at the highest d ose, which was 5 mg/kg. Moreover, raised stimulus intensity failed to affect its efficacy as an anticonvulsant. The results of the present s tudy suggest that DC has a modest anticonvulsant potency. It is reason able to assume that its anticonvulsant efficacy is primarily due to at tenuation of AD propagation rather than the raising of the seizure tri ggering threshold at the kindling locus.