The effect of serotonin on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity

Objective: This study was aimed at examining the epileptiform activity of the 5-HT2 serotonin receptor agonist and antagonist, and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in penicillin-induced epilepsy in albino Wistar rats. Methods: For this purpose, 90 albino male Wistar rats were used in this study. Epileptiform activity was induced by an injection of penicillin, an agonist of GABAA receptor, (500 IU, i.c.) into the somatomotor cortex. Thirty minutes after the injection of penicillin, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, an agonist of 5-HT2 receptor) (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg, i.p.), methysergide, an antagonist of 5-HT2 receptor, (1, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mu M, i.c.v.) and 5-HTP, precursor of 5-HT, (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered, respectively. Results: DOI, at the doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg, significantly decreased penicillin-induced epileptiform activity (p 0.05). Conclusion: The electrophysiological data from the present study suggest that serotonin 5-HT2 receptors have an important role in controlling penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in the rat