Anticonvulsants specific for petit mal antagonize epileptogenic effect of leucine enkephalin.

The anticonvulsants ethosuximide, sodium valproate, and trimethadione that are specific for petit mal epilepsy abolished in rats the electrical seizure activity and behavioral abnormalities produced by leucine enkephalin, whereas phenobarbital and phenytoin had no effect. The dose-response curve for naloxone against seizure activity induced by leucine enkephalin was the same as that in gamma-hydroxybutyrate-induced petit mal. These data indicate that the epileptic properties of leucine enkephalin are petit mal-like and raise the possibility of involvement of enkephalinergic systems in. The dose-response curve for naloxone against seizure activity induced by leucine enkephalin was the same as that in gamma-hydroxybutyrate-induced petit mal. These data indicate that the epileptic properties of leucine enkephalin are petit mal-like and raise the possibility of involvement of enkephalinergic systems in petit mal epilepsy.