Glutamatergic Regulation of the Audiogenic Seizures and Postictal Catalepsy in Krushinsky–Molodkina Strain Rats: Effects of Dizocilpine and D-Serine

The participation of the glutamatergic neurotransmitter system in the pathogenesis of audiogenic seizures (AS) and post-ictal catalepsy (PIC) in Krushinsky-Molodkina rats was analyzed. Effects of D-serine and disocilpine administration was investigated. In intact KM rats, the intensity of AS correlates with the duration of PIC. The administration of D-serine (acute administration, doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg / kg, as well as after chronic administration – 5 days of 300 mg / kg, n = 34) had no significant effect on AS and PIC. Disocilpine (MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA antagonist) was administered in an acute experiment at doses of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg (n = 41). MK-801 dose-dependently reduced the intensity of AS and caused a "two-wave pattern" of seizures in the most of animals, and removed PIC at a lower dose than AS seizures. PIC was completely eliminated already at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg, while the clonic component of AS still persisted. Thus, it was possible to show the "dissociation" of AS and PIC. It is assumed that although dopaminergic control is involved in the mechanisms of PIC development, glutamatergic neurotransmission is also taking part in the PIC expression.