Effect of neurotoxin DSP4 on EEG power spectra in the rat acute model of epilepsy.

The effect of the adrenergic neurotoxin N-(chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP4) on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was studied in the model of epilepsy induced by systemic application of penicillin (1,000,000 IU/kg, i.p). DSP4 (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was administrated to male Wistar rats, while the control animals were rats from the same litters. EEG activity was recorded in acute and chronic experiments 3 or 4 weeks after DSP4 treatment, before and after penicillin administration. Occasional locus coeruleus (LC) stimulation served as an electrophysiological test of DSP4 toxic effect. EEG power spectra in DSP4 treated animals showed a tendency to be greater in lower frequency bands than in controls before penicillin administration; there was almost no effect of electrical LC stimulation, regardless on penicillin treatment. In the model of epilepsy, the mean total EEG power spectra were greater in the period of 135-330 min after penicillin administration, as well as during 345-540 min, in DSP4 treated animals as compared to the controls. It seems that neurotoxin DSP4 is an optimal tool for studying the removal of LC influence in the acute model of epilepsy. It is also suggested that norepinephrine (NE) may have a modulatory role in the systemic penicillin epilepsy.