Naloxone overcomes the dopaminergic, EEG, and behavioral effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate

The specific opiate antagonists--naloxone and naltrexone--attenuated or abolished the electrical seizure activity, behavioral abnormalities, and increased striatal dopamine content produced by gamma-butyrolactone, the prodrug of gamma-hydroxybutyrate. The effects of naloxone and naltrexone were dose-dependent. These data suggest that gamma-hydroxybutyric acid exerts its effects by action either at the opiate receptor or on enkephalinergic systems, which may be involved in petit mal epilepsy.