Effects of repeated immunosuppressant treatment on rat pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsion.

Abstract

Recently, autoimmune dysfunction was reported to be associated with generalized epileptic seizure^.'^ Serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody and anti-presynaptic membrane antibody were positive in some patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Most patients with Lennox syndrome were positive for both antibodies. Furthermore, many clinical reports indicated immunoglobulin abnormalities, specific major histocompatibility complex antigens typing and the presence of anti-brain antibodies in patients with some childhood epi lep~ies .~ Alpha-interferon treatment in patients with leukemia, chronic hepatitis or systemic lupus erythematosis could induce a serious seizure as its side effect^.^ l4 These clinical and serological evidences suggest the possible involvement of immune response in epileptic seizures. To investigate the relationship between the immune system and seizures in animal models, we studied the effects of peripheral repeated treatment with an immunosuppressant, cyclosporin A (CsA), on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in rats.