Involvement of adenosine in postictal events in rats given electroshock.

The effect of a selective adenosine antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl 1,3-dimethylxanthine (8-CPT) was used to examine involvement of adenosine in ictal and postictal events in rats subjected to maximal electroshock (MES). MES induces the ictal event of hindlimb tonic extension (HLTE) followed by postictal depression (PID). 8-CPT 10 mg/kg, ip produced maximal significant reduction of PID without affecting HLTE, further confirming involvement of adenosine in PID. Carbamazepine and sodium valproate were studied independently and were coadministered with 8-CPT to determine if their anticonvulsant activity was modulated by adenosine and if they altered PID. 8-CPT did not antagonize the seizure protection afforded by CBZ or SV. CBZ significantly reduced postictal events whereas SV had no significant effect. These observations further confirm a role for adenosine in postictal phenomena.