Comparative study of the anticonvulsive activity of N-aminomethylpiperazine-3,3-diethyl 2,4-pyridinedione with the activity of known antiepileptic agents.

N-aminomethylpiperazine-3,3-diethyl-2,4-pyridinedione (DKMP) is a newly synthesized compound with a marked anticonvulsive effect in various epileptic models. The aim of the present work is to compare its anticonvulsive effect in corazol convulsions (100 mg/kg corazol, s.c.) with known anticonvulsants applied in clinical practice. The compounds tested were applied subcutaneously in equitoxic doses (1/20 and 1/30 of their respective LD50). Some undesirable side effects of the antiepileptic agents tested were also studied. With the experimental model used, DKMP was found to have a better anticonvulsive effect compared with diphenylhydantoin, depakin, suxilep and phenobarbital. Diazepam completely inhibited the convulsions, but it has an undesirable strong myorelaxing effect. In a subchronical experiment it was found that no tolerance developed toward DKMP, while the anticonvulsant effect of diazepam significantly decreased on the 15th day, compared with a single administration. Using the rota-rod test it was found that the agents studied had a stronger neurotoxic action compared with DKMP. These results outline DKMP as a promising compound with good antiepileptic activity, comparable to that of the known anticonvulsants.