Chronically administered guanosine is anticonvulsant, amnesic and anxiolytic in mice

Brain Res. 2003 Jul 4;977(1):97-102. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(03)02769-0.

Abstract

Acute administration of intraperitoneal and oral guanosine has been shown to prevent quinolinic acid and alpha-dendrotoxin-induced seizures in rats and mice. In this study, we investigated the effects of 2 weeks ad libitum consumption of guanosine (0.5 mg/ml) added to mice water supply on seizures and lethality induced by the alpha-dendrotoxin, hole-board behavior, inhibitory avoidance task, locomotor activity, motor coordination, rectal temperature, body weight, and water and food consumption. Guanosine prevented seizures in 40% and death in 50% on mice treated with i.c.v. alpha-dendrotoxin; it also impaired inhibitory avoidance memory and increased head-dipping behavior and locomotor activity on the hole-board test. Guanosine consumption did not alter any of the other parameters evaluated. The anticonvulsant, amnesic, and anxyolytic-like effects may be associated with the ability of guanosine in modulating the glutamatergic excitatory system. Adding to previously reported data, these findings suggest a potential role for chronic guanosine in the management of diseases associated with glutamatergic excitotoxicity, including epilepsy and anxiety.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Anxiety / prevention & control
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Body Temperature / drug effects
  • Drug Administration Routes
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Elapid Venoms / toxicity
  • Exploratory Behavior / drug effects
  • Guanosine / administration & dosage
  • Guanosine / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Neurotoxins
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / mortality
  • Seizures / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Elapid Venoms
  • Neurotoxins
  • Guanosine
  • dendrotoxin