The effects of antidepressant drugs on the seizures kindled from the rabbit amygdala

The effects of tricyclic antidepressants; imipramine and doxepin, and of new antidepressants; mianserin, danitracen, trazodone, viloxazine and zimelidine, on seizures kindled from the rabbit amygdala were examined. Behavioral and bioelectrical seizures were kindled by a repeated daily stimulation of unilateral amygdala with a low intensity electric current (120 microamperemeter, 1 msec, 50Hz). The following parameters of kindled seizures were analyzed: 1-intensity of behavioral seizures according to a 6-point scale, 2-duration of behavioral seizures, 3-duration of bioelectrical (EEG) seizure activity. Only imipramine inhibited all parameters of kindled seizures. Doxepin, mianserin, danitracen and trazodone affected only two parameters. Zimelidine did not induce any changes of kindled seizure, and viloxazine prolonged duration of the bioelectrical seizure activity. It is likely that inhibition of seizures kindled from the rabbit amygdala is due to noradrenaline stimulating or serotonin inhibiting properties of the drugs, but independent of the antidepressive activity.