[The effect of vanillin on the fully amygdala-kindled seizures in the rat]

The anticonvulsive action of vanillin, an antiepileptic agent structurally related to vanillyl alcohol isolated from Gastrodia elata Blume, on the fully amygdala-kindled seizures was investigated. Fully kindled seizures were produced by repeated application of low intensity electrical stimulation to the basolateral amygdala once per day. Fifteen consecutive stimulations were needed to reach the first stage 5 seizures at which animals showed behavioral convulsions and electroencephalographic abnormalities. The stage 5 seizures were suppressed by vanillin ip 1 h before stimulation with the ED50 of 286 mg/kg. Meanwhile, the epileptic afterdischarge duration was significantly shortened. Phenytoin at a nontoxic dose 50 mg/kg ip obviously reduced the stage 5 seizures. The present study provides a very useful experimental model of chronic epilepsy to detect anticonvulsants.