Dimethyl sulfoxide and ebselen prevent convulsions induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid

• Published in: Neurochemical research 2004-10, Vol.29 (10), p.1793-1800
• Main Authors: Prauchner, Carlos André, Agostini, Adriano Neujahr, Morimoto, Akemi, Augusti, Paula Rossini, Unfer, Taís Cristina, Zeni, Gilson, Mello, Carlos Fernando, Emanuelli, Tatiana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aminolevulinic Acid - antagonists & inhibitors; Aminolevulinic Acid - toxicity; Animals; Azoles - therapeutic use; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - therapeutic use; Male; Organoselenium Compounds - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Seizures - chemically induced; Seizures - metabolism; Seizures - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0364-3190; 1573-6903
• DOI: 10.1023/B:NERE.0000042204.33161.9d

We investigated whether intrastriatal (i.s.) administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) induces oxidative damage and whether behavioral alterations induced by i.s. administration of ALA could be affected by antioxidants. Unilateral injection of ALA (6 micromol/striatum) increased (approximately 30%) thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), but did not affect striatal content of total thiol groups. ALA-induced body asymmetry was not prevented by pretreatment with ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg, s.c.), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.5 microl/striatum, i.s.) or ebselen (10 nmol/striatum, i.s.). ALA-induced convulsions were not prevented by ascorbic acid, but were partially prevented by DMSO and completely prevented by ebselen. Ebselen completely prevented the increase of striatal TBARS induced by ALA. Results obtained suggest the involvement of reactive species in ALA-induced convulsions and may be of value in understanding the physiopathology of neurological dysfunctions associated to ALA overload.