Comparison of anticonvulsive properties of eboracin and phenytoin in mice

The in vivo effects of phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin, Dilantin) and the experimental anticonvulsant, eboracin, a substituted indenopyrrole, were compared in mice. Pretreatment with varying dosages of either agent followed by challenge with the chemoconvulsant pentylenetetrazol (Metrazol) indicated that eboracin provided slightly less protection against seizures than phenytoin and was much less toxic. Intermediate doses of either agent led to a form of clonic status epilepticus which persisted for an average of 18 min in phenytoin-treated and 58 min in eboracin-treated mice. Pretreatment with higher or lower doses did not lead to these manifestations. Animals in which this syndrome had been induced should be of value in studies of the chemistry and physiology of the clonic state.