On certain effects of dopaminergic agents in pentylenetetrazol convulsions

In experiments with pentylenetetrazol convulsion model it has been found that L-DOPA in a dose of 50 mg/kg has no influence, while 500 mg/kg potentiate convulsions. Amantadine in a dose of 25 mg/kg and particularly markedly in a dose of 100 mg/kg potentaites convulsive seizures. Amphetamine in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg has no effect, while 5 mg/kg potentiate convulsive seizures, which is particularly pronounced in mice. Apomorphine in doses of 0.5 and 5 mg/kg has no marked effect on convulsions. Haloperidol in doses of 0.2 and 2 mg/kg does not have a pronounced effect on convulsive-seizure reactions and does not influence the effect of L-DOPA and amantadine on these reactions. The results obtained suggested a rather indirect effect of the dopaminergic system on convulsive-seizure reactivity. It is possible that the effects of some of the dopaminergic agents studied are realized through influencing the relationships between the dopaminergic system and other neurotransmitter systems (especially cholinergic, GABA-ergic and serotonin-ergic).