Effect of gamma-crotonolactone in experimental models of generalized absence seizures

The effect of the unsaturated lactone, gamma-crotonolactone (GCL), against spike wave discharges (SWD) in two pharmacological models of generalized absence seizures in rat was investigated. The models used were the gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) model and the low dose pentylenetetrazole model. GCL pretreatment resulted in a significant decrease in duration of SWD in both models. In addition, this compound reduced the ability of the agonist, muscimol, to enhance SWD duration in the GHB model and was effective in developing animals as well as in adult animals with GHB-induced SWD. These data suggest that GCL may be a useful tool in the study of basic mechanisms of SWD generation in experimental absence seizures.