Antiabsence seizure activity of specific GABAB and gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid receptor antagonists

Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a naturally occurring compound that has the ability to induce generalized absence seizures possibly by GABAB-receptor-mediated mechanisms. The object of these experiments was to examine the effectiveness of a range of specific GABAB-receptor agonists and antagonists of varying specificity, as well as the specific GHB-receptor antagonist NCS 382, in two experimental animal models of generalized absence seizures: one in which the seizures are induced by GHB and the other in which the seizures are induced by administration of low-dose (20-mg/kg) pentylenetetrazole. All specific GABAB-receptor antagonists as well as the specific GHB-receptor antagonist produced blockade of experimental absence seizures in both models; pretreatment with GABAB-receptor agonists resulted in generalized absence status epilepticus lasting for hours. These data confirm the concept that specific GABAB-receptor antagonist activity confers antiabsence seizure activity, suggest that the same holds for specific GHB-receptor antagonists, and raise the possibility that both GHB- and GABAB-antagonist drugs have the potential to be useful therapeutic agents in generalized absence seizures.