Regional and age specific effects of zolpidem microinfusions in the substantia nigra on seizures

Jana Velíšková, Wolfgang Löscher, Solomon L. Moshé

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

GABAergic (γ-aminobutyric acid) transmission in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) is critical for seizure control. The SNR effects on seizures are site-specific within the SNR and developmentally regulated. These age- and site-specific effects may be due to differential regional distribution and functionality of SNR GABA(A) receptor sites. We investigated the role of GABA/benzodiazepine (BZD) receptors in the SNR in the control of seizures as a function of age. In adult rats, we determined the effects of bilateral zolpidem (an agonist of the BZD1 receptor site) microinfusions in the anterior or in the posterior SNR (SNR(anterior) or SNR(posterior), respectively) on flurothyl-induced clonic and tonic-clonic seizures. In SNR(anterior), zoipidem microinfusions were anticonvulsant but ineffective in SNR(posterior) against clonic seizures. Microinfusions of zolpidem in SNR(posterior) or above SNR, did not alter the threshold to clonic seizures. SNR microinfusions of zolpidem did not alter the threshold to tonic-clonic flurothyl-induced seizures. In 15 day old (PN 15) rats, the SNR microinfusions of zolpidem had anticonvulsant effects on clonic and tonic- clonic seizures. There was no regional specificity. Microinfusions of zolpidem above the SNR, did not alter the threshold to clonic or tonic- clonic seizures. Our data demonstrate that the BZD1 binding sites are involved in the SNR control of flurothyl seizures in adult and PN 15 male rats.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)107-114
Number of pages8
JournalEpilepsy Research
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1998

Keywords

  • Development
  • GABA
  • GABA(A) receptors
  • Rat
  • Seizures
  • Substantia nigra

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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