Paradoxical facilitation of pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion susceptibility in mice lacking neuronal nitric oxide synthase

The major aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between nitric oxide (NO) and generalized epilepsy. Mice lacking the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene (nNOS−/−) were used in this study to determine the relationship between nNOS α and NO in pentylentetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsions. nNOS−/− mice exhibited severe convulsions following injection with a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (40 mg/kg i.p.) and convulsive doses were lethal in all of the mice (60 mg/kg i.p.) following tonic convulsions.The results were confirmed by using selective nNOS inhibitors in wild-type (nNOS+/+) mice. The higher doses of the nNOS inhibitors 1-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] imidazole (TRIM) and 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (3Br7NI) inhibited clonic–tonic convulsions induced by a convulsive dose of PTZ (60 mg/kg) in nNOS+/+ mice. In contrast, either TRIM or 3Br7NI at lower doses enhanced convulsions following injection with a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (40 mg/kg) in nNOS+/+ mice similar to nNOS−/− mice treated with PTZ. Such a proconvulsant effect was observed in nNOS+/+ mice pretreated with nNOS inhibitors but not other NOS inhibitors. These results indicate that NO may be regarded as an anticonvulsant or a proconvulsant substance in relation to convulsions induced by PTZ in mice. Pretreatment with N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists (5S,10R)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]-cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), (E)-(±)-2-amino-4-methyl-5-phospho no-3-pentenoic acid ethyl ester, CGP39551) and DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist (2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide, NBQX) inhibited a subconvulsive dose of PTZ-induced convulsions in nNOS−/− mice, demonstrating that convulsions induced by PTZ are modulated by endogenous NO production and ionotropic glutamate receptor–mediated stimulation. These results suggest a negative or positive modulation of neuronal interactions by basal or enhanced NO production, respectively.