No abstract available.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione* ; Cycloheximide* ; Dizocilpine Maleate*

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of bicuculline(BIC) on the excitability of visual cortex, observe the induction of epileptiform activity and define the characteristics of spontaneous activity. METHODS: We divided 19 to 23-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats into 3 groups by the concentration of BIC:5(n=10), 20(n=12), and 40(n=10) microM. The slices from the rats were incubated in artificial CSF for 1 hour, and then extracellular recordings were performed. RESULTS: Spontaneous epileptiform activities were observed in all of the BIC groups. The latencies of 5, 20, and 40 microM BIC were 31.6+/-13.0, 34.0+/-11.9, and 6.3+/-3.2 min. The frequencies of 5, 20, and 40 microM BIC were 1.1+/-0.5, 2.7+/-1.8, and 19.1+/-23.3 min-1. The amplitudes of 5, 20, and 40 microM BIC were 5.4+/-1.4, 6.9+/-0.9, 11.1+/-1.3 mV. The durations of 5, 20, and 40 microM BIC were 444.6+/-169.1, 865.2+/-151.2, and 1,014.7+/-613.8 ms. CONCLUSION: BIC is associated with increased excitability in the visual cortex and induces spontaneous epileptiform activities. This induction was decreased by D-AP5 or CNQX.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; Bicuculline* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Visual Cortex

PURPOSE: The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of low magnesium on the excitability of visual cortex, observe the induction of epileptiform activity, and define the characteristics of spontaneous activity. METHODS: We divided 19-23 days-old Sprague-Dawley rats into three groups; they were divided by the concentration of Mg, 1 (n=10), 0.5 (n=13), and 0 (n=14) mM. The visual cortex slices from brain were incubated in artificial CSF for one hour, and then extracellular recordings were performed. RESULTS: The latency of interictal epileptiform activity in 0.5 and 0 mM Mg was 26.9+/-11.7 and 13.3+/-2.7 min, the frequency was 1.1+/-0.7 and 5.7+/-0.7 min-1, the amplitude was 1.0+/-0.3 and 1.4+/-0.4 mV, the duration was 15.1+/-15.4 and 587.4+/-398.0 ms. The latency of ictal epileptiform activity in 0 mM Mg was 15.5+/-8.0 min, the frequency was 53.8+/-16.3 /event, the amplitude was 2.9+/-0.7 mV, the duration was 25.2+/-6.0 s. CONCLUSIONS: Low Mg showed the increased excitability in the visual cortex and induced the interictal and ictal spontaneous epileptiform activity. This induction was abolished by D-AP5 and decreased by CNQX. This result may provide insights into the events underlying the epileptogenesis.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; Brain ; Magnesium* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Visual Cortex*

PURPOSE: The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of 4-aminopyridine(4-AP) on the excitability of visual cortex, observe the induction of epileptiform activity and define the characteristics of spontaneous activity. METHODS: We divided 19 to 23-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats into 3 groups by the concentration of 4-AP:5(n=10), 50(n=11), and 100(n=12) microM. The slices from their brains were incubated in artificial CSF for 1 hour, and then extracellular recordings were performed. RESULTS: Spontaneous epileptiform activities were observed in 50 and 100 microM 4-AP groups. The latencies of interictal epileptiform activity were 7.8+/-1.1 and 5.8+/-0.9 min, the frequencies 1.8+/-0.2 and 24.1+/-6.6 min-1, the amplitudes 0.7+/-0.1 and 2.8+/-0.5 mV, and the durations 238.0+/-57.8 and 242.2+/-70.0 ms in 50 and 100 microM 4-AP groups respectively. The latencies of ictal epileptiform activity were 21.0+/-9.8 and 6.7+/-2.3 min, the frequencies 116.2+/-46.7 and 193.7+/-26.4/event, the amplitudes 3.1+/-0.8 and 2.8+/-0.9 mV, and the durations 26.9+/-27.6, 35.2+/-12.6 s in 50 and 100 microM 4-AP groups respectively. CONCLUSION: 4-AP showed increased excitability in the visual cortex and induced interictal and ictal spontaneous epileptiform activity. This induction was decreased by D- AP5 or CNQX. Those results suggest that both types of inotropic excitatory amino acid receptors are overactivated and contribute to seizure initiation and propagation.
4-Aminopyridine* ; 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Brain ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glutamate ; Seizures ; Visual Cortex

Toxic effect of oxygen radicals and cardioprotective effect of N -methyl -D -aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists against xanthine oxidase (XO) and hypoxanthine (HX)-induced cardiotoxicity were measured in order to elucidate the mechanism of cardiotoxicity on cultured mouse myocardial cells. MTT assay was performed after myocardial cells were cultured for 12 hours at various concentrations of XO/HX alone or with D -2 -amino -5 -phosphonovaleric acid (APV) or 6 - cyano -7 -nitroquinoxaline -2,3 -dione (CNQX). In this study, XO/HX was toxic in a time -and dose -dependent manners on cultured myocardial cells, and midcytotoxicity value 50 (MTT50) was at 30 mU/ml XO and 0.1 mM HX after myocardial cells were grown for 12 hours in media containing 1 ~50 mU/ml XO and 0.1 mM HX. When cultures were treated with 30 mU/ml XO and 0.1 mM HX flus 20 80 microM APV for 12 hours, cell viability was increased remarkably, while treatment with 30 mU/ml XO and 0.1 mM HX flus 10 ~50 microM CNQX did not show any protective effect against XO/HX -induced neurotoxicity. From the above results, it is suggested that oxygen radicals are toxic on cultured mouse myocardial cells by the decrease of cell viability, and NMDA receptor antagonists such as APV are very effective in the prevention of myocardial toxicity induced by oxygen radicals.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; Hypoxanthine ; Mice ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Oxygen* ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Xanthine Oxidase

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of tetraethylammonium (TEA) on the excitability of visual cortex, and observe the induction of epileptiform activity. Also, it was aimed to define the characteristics of spontaneous activity and observe the effect of GABAA antagonist, NMDA antagonist and non-NMDA antagonist on the TEA-induced epileptiform activity. METHODS: The visual cortex slices in this study were obtained from 19 to 23 day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Extracellular cellular recording was performed to observe the induction of epileptiform discharge perfused by artificial CSF containing 1, 5 and 10 mM TEA and the effect of 10 ?M 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-dione disodium(CNQX) and 50 microM D-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid(D-AP5) on the 10 mM TEA-induced epileptiform activity. RESULTS: Spontaneous epileptiform activities were observed in 5 and 10 mM TEA groups. The addition of 5 ?M BIC blocked the TEA-induced spontaneous ictal epileptiform activity but didn't block the TEA-induced spontaneous interictal epileptiform activity. The addition of 10 ?M CNQX shortened duration, decreased frequency and amplitude of the TEA-induced spontaneous epileptiform activity. The addition of 50 microM D-AP5 blocked the TEA-induced spontaneous ictal and interictal epileptiform activity. CONCLUSION: TEA induced the increased excitability in the visual cortex and spontaneous epileptiform activity. 5 ?M BIC blocked the TEA-induced spontaneous ictal epileptiform activity and GABAA antagonist BIC plays a role in limiting the epileptiform discharge. The TEA-induced spontaneous epileptiform activity induction was decreased by CNQX and blocked by D-AP5. NMDA and non-NMDA are required to modify the TEA-induced spontaneous epileptiform activity.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; GABA Antagonists ; N-Methylaspartate ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tea ; Tetraethylammonium ; Visual Cortex*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of potassium, bicuculline (BIC) and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) on epileptiform activity induced by pilocarpine in the rat visual cortex slices. METHODS: In the rat visual cortex slices, we observed the change of pilocarpine-induced epileptiform discharges using extracellular recordings during perfusion of artificial cerebro-spinal fluid (ACSF) with various potassium concentrations ([K+], 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mM) and ACSF with 10 micrometer BIC and 20 micrometer CNQX under 7.5 mM [K+]. RESULTS: Spontaneous interictal epileptiform activity induced by pilocarpine was observed in 5 mM or higher [K+] and ictal discharge was only detected in 7.5 mM [K+]. Increase of [K+] from 2.5 to 7.5 mM not only resulted in the increase of frequency and amplitude of epileptiform activity but also favored the transformation of pilocarpine-induced interictal activity into ictal activity in the rat visual cortex. However, in 10 mM [K+], the ictal discharge was unprovoked and interictal activity was provoked with decreased frequency and amplitude. The spontaneous ictal discharge was blocked but interictal activity was maintained with increased frequency and amplitude by BIC. Interictal and ictal activities were completely blocked by CNQX. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the extracellular potassium concentration, GABA system, and non-NMDA mechanism seemed to be involved in the development and maintenance of pilocarpine-induced epileptiform activity in the rat visual cortex.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione* ; Animals ; Bicuculline* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Perfusion ; Pilocarpine* ; Potassium* ; Rats* ; Visual Cortex*

Whole bee venom (WBV) and its major component, melittin, have been reported to induce long-lasting spontaneous flinchings and hyperalgesia. The current study was designed to elucidate the peripheral and spinal mechanisms of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors by which intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of WBV and melittin induced nociceptive responses. Changes in mechanical threshold and flinching behaviors were measured after the injection of WBV (0.04 mg or 0.1 mg/paw) and melittin (0.02 mg or 0.05 mg/paw) into the mid-plantar area of a rat hindpaw. MK-801 and CNQX (6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2, 3-dione disodium) were administered intrathecally (i.t. 10microgram) or i.pl. (15microgram) 15 min before or i.t. 60 min after i.pl. WBV and melittin injection. Intrathecal pre- and post- administration of MK-801 and CNQX significantly attenuated the ability of high dose WBV and melittin to reduce paw withdrawal threshold (PWT). In the rat injected with low dose, but not high dose, of WBV and melittin, i.pl. injection of MK-801 effectively suppressed the decrease of PWTs only at the later time-points, but the inhibitory effect of CNQX (i.pl.) was significant at all time-point after the injection of low dose melittin. High dose WBV- and melittin-induced spontaneous flinchings were significantly suppressed by i.t. administration of MK-801 and CNQX, and low dose WBV- and melittin-induced flinchings were significantly reduced only by intraplantarly administered CNQX, but not by MK-801. These experimental flinchings suggest that spinal, and partial peripheral mechanisms of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors are involved in the development and maintenance of WBV- and melittin-induced nociceptive responses.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; Bee Venoms* ; Bees* ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Hyperalgesia ; Melitten* ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Rats*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists on pain-related behavioral change and cFos-like protein expression on the spinal dorsal horn neurons following subcutaneous injection of diluted formalin into one paw. Depending on the drug pretreatment paradigm, animals were divided into four groups; the saline treated, the MK801 treated, CNQX treated, and both MK801 and CNQX treated. Each group was consisted of fifteen rats. After single injection of formalin, all animals exhibited signs of phasic pain(first pain) within 15 minutes, which was followed by a long lasting tonic pain(second pain), thereafter. MK801 pretreatment significantly reduced only the tonic pain. On the other hand, the intrathecal administration of CNQX significantly inhibited only the first phasic pain behavior. An injection of formalin into one hindpaw elicited cFos-like protein expression on the ipsilateral dorsal horn neurons from T12 to S1 spinal cord. The cFos-like protein expression was especially strong in the L3-5 segments and sustained more than 8 hours after the formalin injection. The cFos-like protein expression was peaked two after the formalin injection in superficial layer (laminar III-VII). The MK801 pretreatment reduced the number of cFos-like protein positive neurons significantly one hour after the formalin injection in the superficial dorsal horn. The reduction was observed in the superficial as well as deep layers four hours after the injection. The pretreatment of MK801+CNQX reduced significantly cFos-like protein expression on the both superficial and deep layers of the ipsilateral dorsal horn throughout the experimental session. However, CNQX application did not produce any significant reduction of cFos-like protein expression on the dorsal horn neurons. These results suggest that NMDA receptor may play an more important role in cFos-like protein expression of ipsilateral dorsal horn neurons on the formalin evoked pain model of the rat.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Formaldehyde* ; Hand ; Horns ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Neurons ; Posterior Horn Cells ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; Spinal Cord*

BACKGROUND: Previous reports have described NMDA antagonist reduced the nerve injury induced or inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia. This study evaluated the effects of spinally administered excitatory amino acid antagonists on the thermal hyperalgesia state induced by mild burn. METHODS: The measured response was the latency to paw withdrawal of each hindpaw after application of a focused heat lamp on the plantar surface of the paw through a glass plate upon which the animal stood. In this work, MK801, non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, AP5, competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, CNQX, non-NMDA receptor antagonist were injected through chronically implanted lumbar intrathecal catheters in rats with mild burn injury on the right hindpaw. RESULTS: In the normal left hindpaw, MK801, AP5 and CNQX had little effect upon paw withdrawal latency (PWL) at intrathecal doses which do not produce readily detectable motor weakness. In the right hyperalgesic hindpaw, AP5 significantly reduced PWL at a dose-dependent fashion, MK801 reduced PWL to some extent, and CNQX did not reduced PWL. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that spinal NMDA receptors play an important role in the hyperalgesia induced by mild burn injury.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; Burns ; Catheters ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists ; Glass ; Hot Temperature ; Hyperalgesia* ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Rats* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate