Two doses of alprazolam (0.1 and 0.5 mg.kg“1) were tested against a model of human absences - rhythmic EEG activity elicited by low doses of pentylenetetrazol (35 mg.kg-1) - in 10 unrestrained rats with implanted cortical electrodes. Alprazolam delayed the onset of epileptic EEG activity, decreased the number of rhythmic episodes and shortened the total duration of rhythmic activity in a dose-dependent manner. The average duration of episodes of rhythmic activity remained unchanged; other benzodiazepines studied previously were able to influence this measure.
The convulsant effects of four doses of picrotoxin (PX) - 2, 3, 4, and 6 mg/kg s.c. - were evaluated in the first part of the study. The 4- mg/kg dose, which elicited minimal seizures in all animals, generalized tonic-clonic (major) seizures in 75 % of rats and fatal outcome in 69 % of rats, was chosen for the second part, i.e. for testing the anticonvulsant action of clonazepam (Rivotril1* Roche, 0.1 or 1 mg/kg i.p.). Clonazepam exhibited a dose-dependent action against PX-induccd seizures, being more efficient against major than against minimal seizures.