Possible role of excitatory amino acids in the convulsant action of catechol

The effects of several excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists on sensory-evoked electromyographic activity induced by catechol have been studied in urethane-anaesthetised rats. 2-Amino-5-phosphono-valearic acid (1.2 mumol/kg i.c.), cis-2,3-piperidine dicarboxylic acid (1.4 mumol/kg i.c.), gamma-D-glutamyl-glycine (2.0 mumol/kg i.c.), 2-amino-7-phosphono-heptanoic acid (230 mumol/kg i.v.) and MK-801 (5 mg/kg i.p.) all significantly decreased the frequency of occurrence of those components of the sensory evoked EMG dependent on supraspinal structures, but were without effect on the spinal component.