The antimyoclonic action of clonazepam through a GABA--independent mechanism.

ABSTRACT

The present study investigates whether clonazepam exerts its antimyoclonic action through a GABA independent mechanism. We have studied the antimyoclonic effect of clonazepam and compared it with that of aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), a GABA transaminase inhibitor, against myoclonus induced by picrotoxin, a GABA receptor antagonist and allylglycine, a drug which inhibits synthesis and release of GABA. We have also investigated the effect of clonazepam against picrotoxin-induced myoclonus in rats pretreated with either AOAA or submyoclonic dose of allylgylycine. Clonazepam pretreatment inhibited both picrotoxin and allylglycine-induced myoelonus whereas AOAA was effective in inhibiting only picrotoxin-induced myoclonus. The protective effect of clonazepam against picrotoxin-induced myoclonus was potentiated by AOAA pretreatment. Moreover, clonazepam afforded protection against picrotoxin-induced myoclonus in rats pretreated with a submyoclonic GABA reducing dose of allylglycine. These findings indicate that a GABA independent mechanism may also be involved in the antimyoclonic action of clonazepam.