Inhibitory effect of taurine on wet-dog shakes produced by [D-Ala2,Met5] enkephalinamide with reference to effects on hippocampal epileptic discharges

Neuropharmacology. 1986 Dec;25(12):1373-8. doi: 10.1016/0028-3908(86)90111-5.

Abstract

The effects of taurine on wet-dog shakes produced by [D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalinamide (DAME) were investigated in rats. Wet-dog shakes and epileptic discharges in the hippocampus were produced by intraventricular administration of 50 micrograms of DAME. Pretreatment with 10 microliter of taurine, given intraventricularly in a dose of 0.95 mumol, inhibited wet-dog shakes and epileptic discharges in the hippocampus. While the same dose of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) also inhibited the wet-dog shakes, the same dose of L-leucine did not suppress them. These observations indicate that the inhibition of DAME-induced wet-dog shakes by taurine is associated with the suppression of seizure activities in the hippocampus. The possibility that taurine possesses an antagonistic action on opioid peptides is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Enkephalin, Methionine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Enkephalin, Methionine / pharmacology
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology*
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Taurine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Taurine
  • Enkephalin, Methionine
  • enkephalinamide-Met, Ala(2)-