Ethacrynic acid-induced convulsions and brain noradrenaline in mice

The intracerebroventricular injection of ethacrynic acid (a 50% convulsive dose; 50 micrograms/mouse) accelerated brain noradrenaline turnover and decreased noradrenaline contents. The decrease in noradrenaline contents was antagonized by 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate but not by diazepam. Both 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate and diazepam suppressed the incidence of ethacrynic acid-induced convulsions while reserpine, alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine or FLA-63 augmented it. The results suggest that stimulation by ethacrynic acid of excitatory amino acid neurons enhances-noradrenergic neuronal anticonvulsive activity.