| RESEARCH PAPER |
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| Year : 1997 | Volume
: 29
| Issue : 5 | Page : 296-300 |
Modulation of neurotransmitters in mice brains by an anticonvulsant principle from cuttle bone
V Srinivas, Babu M Haranath, Reddy T Narender, PV Diwan, PUM Reddy
Correspondence Address:
V Srinivas
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
Objectives: To elucidate the mechanism of anticonvulsant action of sepia shell (cuttle bone) extract against pentylenete-
trazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice.
Methods: The powdered shells were subjected to acid and alkali extraction followed by dialysis. The dialysate was administered intraperitoneally to Swiss albino mice at a dose of 600 mg/Kg to study the anitconvulsant action. Seizures were induced by PTZ at a dose of 80 mg/Kg, adminsitered intraperitoneally. The brains from the control and test groups were removed immediately after cervical dislocation and placed in dry ice. The monoamines, i.e., serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline were estimated fluorimetrically.
Results: Shell extract per se did not influence the serotonin levels in brains. When PTZ alone was administered, there was a significant decrease (10.45%) in serotonin content with respect to controls. In the group treated with sepia shell extract (SSE)+ PTZ, the brain levels of serotonin were found to be very high (72%) similar to that observed in phenytoin per se treated group. Catecholamines were not significantly affected by any of the treatments.
Conclusions: The anticonvulsant action of sepia shell extract may be due to the elevation of the seizure threshold rather than the prevention of seizure spread, as SSE was able to abolish the clonic as well as tonic stages of the convulsions. This action is probably mediated by the increased serotonergic transmission rather than catecholaminergic.
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