Diphenyl diselenide and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol increase the PTZ-induced chemical seizure and mortality in mice

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interaction between a classic GABAergic antagonist - pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) with an organoselenium compound - diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)(2) and with the metal chelating agent - 2,3 dimercaptopropanol (BAL). Mice were pre-treated with 150 mu mol/kg (PhSe)(2) or BAL (250, 500 or 1000 mu mol/k,a) before treatment with PTZ. Pre-treatment with (PhSe)2 reduced the latency for PTZ-induced seizure at doses of 40 and 60 mg/k- and cause a decrease in the latency for PTZ-induced death at the dose of 60 mg/kg. However, treatment with PTZ at dose of 80 mg/kg was not affected by (PhSC)2 pre-treatment. Pre-treatment with BAL reduced the latency for PTZ-induced seizure at doses of 40 and 50 mg/kg. In addition, the latency for PTZ-induced death at the dose of 40 mg/kg was decreased significantly by pre-treatment with all doses of BAL. At the dose of 50 mg/kg, a significant decrease in the latency for death occurred only in mice pre-treated with 500 and 1000 mu mol/kg of BAL. Our results indicate that the PTZ-induced chemical seizures and mortality was enhanced by (PhSe)2 and BAL. These results indicated that (PhSe), and BAL interact with PTZ possibly by modulating the GABAergic system. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Inc.