The effect of serotonin on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity

This study was aimed at examining the epileptiform activity of the 5-HT₂ serotonin receptor agonist and antagonist, and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in penicillin-induced epilepsy in albino Wistar rats.

For this purpose, 90 albino male Wistar rats were used in this study. Epileptiform activity was induced by an injection of penicillin, an agonist of GABAA receptor, (500 IU, i.c.) into the somatomotor cortex. Thirty minutes after the injection of penicillin, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, an agonist of 5-HT₂ receptor) (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg, i.p.), methysergide, an antagonist of 5-HT₂ receptor, (1, 10, 20, 50 and 100 µM, i.c.v.) and 5-HTP, precursor of 5-HT, (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered, respectively.

DOI, at the doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg, significantly decreased penicillin-induced epileptiform activity (p < 0.05). Methysergide, at the doses of 20, 50 and 100 µM, significantly increased the mean spike frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity (p < 0.05). The doses of 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg of 5-HTP decreased the mean spike frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity (p < 0.05). The mean of amplitude of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity did not significantly change in any of the groups (p > 0.05).

The electrophysiological data from the present study suggest that serotonin 5-HT₂ receptors have an important role in controlling penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in the rat.