The anticonvulsant action and the long-term effects on learning, memory and
behavior of the new generation antiepileptic drug gabapentin (GBP) were in
vestigated in immature animals. Kainic acid (KA) was administered to rats o
n postnatal day (P) 35. Animals were treated with GBP or saline from P36 to
P75 and spontaneous seizure frequency was monitored. After tapering the dr
ug, the rats were tested in the water maze and open field test. Brains were
then analyzed for histological lesions. Animals treated with GBP following
KA-induced status epilepticus had a reduced incidence of spontaneous recur
rent seizures, a better pathology score, and less aggressiveness compared t
o saline-treated controls. Effectiveness of GBP on seizure threshold was te
sted using flurothyl inhalation in 10 separate age groups of animals rangin
g from the newborn period to adulthood. Furthermore, GBP plasma concentrati
on peaks were determined in all age groups. At all ages, GBP pre-treated an
imals demonstrated a higher seizure threshold. Plasma GBP concentrations di
d not significantly change with age. These data suggest that acute administ
ration of a single therapeutic dose of GBP increases the seizure threshold
at all ages studied, while chronic treatment following the status reduces s
pontaneous seizure frequency and cell damage and has no long-term adverse c
onsequences on cognitive processes during development. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc
ience Ltd. All rights reserved.