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Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has been used to prevent seizures in eclampsia. This study examined the central effects of MgSO4 on different types of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures. Male Wistar rats were submitted to intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of MgSO4 at different doses followed by intraperitoneal administration of PTZ. The latency to the onset of the first seizure induced by PTZ was significantly increased by ICV administration of MgSO4 at a dose of 100 µg compared to the control treatment. In addition, the total period during which animals presented with seizures was significantly reduced at this dose of MgSO4. Furthermore, the latency to the onset of the first partial complex seizure was significantly increased by the lowest dose of MgSO4. However, a high dose of MgSO4 had no effect or even potentiated the effect of PTZ. These results suggest that, depending on the dose, MgSO4 may be important in prevention of epileptic seizures.

Sulfato de magnésio (MgSO4) é utilizado para prevenir crises epilépticas na eclampsia. Este estudo examina os efeitos do MgSO4 em diferentes tipos de crise induzidas por pentilenotetrazol (PTZ). Ratos Wistar foram submetidos à administração intracerebroventricular (ICV) de diferentes doses de MgSO4 seguida de administração intraperitoneal de PTZ. A latência para o início da primeira crise induzida por PTZ foi aumentada pela administração ICV de MgSO4 na dose de 100 µg quando comparada ao tratamento controle. Além disso, o período durante o qual os animais apresentaram crises foi reduzido com a mesma dose de MgSO4. A latência para o início da primeira crise parcial complexa também foi aumentada com a dose menor de MgSO4 (32 µg). No entanto, a maior dose (320 µg) de MgSO4 não foi efetiva ou até potencializou os efeitos do PTZ. Esses resultados sugerem que, dependendo da dose, o MgSO4 pode ser útil na prevenção de crises epilépticas.

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The dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter (DLPAG) is a key structure in behavioral and autonomic expression of defensive reactions. Inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase microinjected into the DLPAG are anxiolytic. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the behavioral effects produced by administration of two NO donors, SIN-1 or DEA/NO, into the DLPAG. We also employed the detection of Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) to reveal brain areas activated by SIN-1 administration. Male Wistar rats (n = 7-11/group) received intra-DLPAG injection of SIN-1 (150 or 300 nmol), DEA/NO (150, 300, or 600 nmol), or saline (0.5 microl), and their behavior was observed in an open arena during 15 min. For the FLI assay, the animals (n = 3-5/group) were sacrificed 2.25 h after the drug. In a second experiment, rats (n = 5-7/group) received a first intra-DLPAG injection of saline or methylene blue (MB, 30 nmol), an NO antagonist, followed by saline or SIN-1 (300 nmol). SIN-1 (300 nmol) induced a flight response characterized by coordinated running and oriented jumps with escape attempts. Similar but short-lasting changes were seen after the administration of DEA/NO. FLI was dose-dependently induced by SIN-1 in several regions related to defensive reactions, including the periaqueductal gray, hypothalamic nuclei, medial amygdala, and cingulate cortex (analysis of variance, p < 0.05). A greater number of neurons showing FLI was found ipsilateral to the microinjection site. The drug effect was greater at this side in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, paraventricular and lateral hypothalamus, cingulate cortex, septohipoccampal nucleus, and horizontal limb of the diagonal band. The increase in SIN-1-induced FLI was attenuated by MB pretreatment in most regions. These results suggest that NO may participate in the modulation of defensive responses in the DLPAG.

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The dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG) has been implicated in the behavioral and autonomic expression of defensive reactions. Several results suggest that, along with GABA, glutamate and serotonin, nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in defense reactions mediated by this region. To further investigate this possibility we microinjected methylene blue (MB; 10, 30 or 100 nmol/0.5 microl) into the DPAG of rats submitted to the elevated plus-maze test, an animal model of anxiety. MB has been used as an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to demonstrate cGMP-mediated processes, and there is evidence that NO may exert its biological effects by binding to the heme part of guanylate cyclase, causing an increase in cGMP levels. The results showed that MB (30 nmol) significantly increased the percent of time spent in the open arms (saline = 11.57 +/- 1.54, MB = 18.5 +/- 2.45, P<0.05) and tended to do the same with the percentage of open arm entries (saline = 25.8 +/- 1.97, MB = 33. 77 +/- 3.07, P<0.10), but did not change the number of enclosed arm entries. The dose-response curve, however, had an inverted U shape. These results indicate that MB, within a limited dose range, has anxiolytic properties when microinjected into the DPAG.

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The dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG) has been implicated in the behavioral and autonomic expression of defensive reactions. Several results suggest that, along with GABA, glutamate and serotonin, nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in defense reactions mediated by this region. To further investigate this possibility we microinjected methylene blue (MB; 10, 30 or 100 nmol/0.5 µl) into the DPAG of rats submitted to the elevated plus-maze test, an animal model of anxiety. MB has been used as an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to demonstrate cGMP-mediated processes, and there is evidence that NO may exert its biological effects by binding to the heme part of guanylate cyclase, causing an increase in cGMP levels. The results showed that MB (30 nmol) significantly increased the percent of time spent in the open arms (saline = 11.57 + or - 1.54, MB = 18.5 + or - 2.45, P<0.05) and tended to do the same with the percentage of open arm entries (saline = 25.8 + or - 1.97, MB = 33.77 + or - 3.07, P<0.10), but did not change the number of enclosed arm entries. The dose-response curve, however, had an inverted U shape. These results indicate that MB, within a limited dose range, has anxiolytic properties when microinjected into the DPAG.

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1. Effects of diazepam (DZP) or haloperidol (HAL) on convulsions and behavioral responses (locomotion, circling, spying and head shaking) induced by bilateral electrical stimulation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were examined. 2. Male Wistar rats were electrically stimulated (ten 30-sec trains, 60 Hz, 80-100 microA) bilaterally in the mPFC and their behavior was simultaneously observed in an open field in daily session. 3. DZP and HAL dose-response curves (0, 0.5, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min before electrical stimulation session) were determined after a baseline of behavioral responses was established. 4. DZP dose-dependently decreased head shaking and convulsions, had no effect in circling and spying behaviors, and increased locomotion except at the highest dose. HAL reduced locomotion, circling and spying behaviors in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect convulsions or head shaking. 5. These results demonstrated that convulsion and behavioral responses induced by electrical activation of the mPFC were modified by DZP or HAL. Therefore, the mPFC is involved in the mediation of neural and/or behavioral activity that may be implicated in some central effects of psychoactive drugs.

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An electrical stimulation (ES) session with ten 30-second trains of sine-wave stimuli (30-100 microA, 60 Hz) separated by 30-second intervals was conducted daily in rats with electrodes implanted in the left or right or in both sides of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC; B = + 2 mmA, + or -0.6 unilateral or 1 mmL bilateral, + 2.7 mmV). The unilateral and bilateral ES in the medial PFC produced abnormal behaviors such as circling spying, body stretching and immobility, and did not affect either the acquisition or the performance of delayed tasks in the 8-arm radial maze conducted 8-10 h after the ES session. However, animals that showed convulsions when the bilateral ES was applied in the medial PFC showed significant deficits in spatial learning and in the performance of short-term (5-second delay) and long-term (1-hour delay) working memory. The behavioral and cognitive effects induced by repeated episodic ES in the medial PFC provide an experimental model to study the effects of increased cortical activation on cognitive processes.

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Os autores estudam o valor de eletroencefalograma, feito rotineiramente, como metodo preventivo contra acidentes do trabalho, em empregados de uma empresa distribuidora de energia eletrica. Apos analise de quatro grupos de empregados, a saber: empregados que sofreram acidentes do trabalho; - empregados em funcoes de alto risco; empregados com problemas neurologicos; e empregados sem problemas neurologicos e que nao sofreram acidentes do trabalho, - concluem que o eletroencefalograma rotineiro nao e um metodo adequado para a selecao de empregados com predisposicao a acidentes e nem para a deteccao de problemas neuro-sensoriais inaparentes

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