The effect of dorsal hippocampal administration of nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic ligands on pentylenetetrazol-induced generalized seizures in rats

► Seizure parameters were significantly different among the experimental groups. ► Both the agonists and antagonists led to increased mortality rate. ► The mortality rate was highest in the nicotine 1 μg/kg-treated rats. ► The second highest mortality rate was in the oxotremorine1μg/kg-treated rats. ► Effect of these drugs on PTZ-induced seizures was dose-dependent and behavior‐specific.