Inhibitory effects of succinic acid on chemical kindling and amygdala electrical kindling in rats.

AIM To investigate the effects and mechanism of succinic acid on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) chemical kindling and amygdala electrical kindling in rats. METHODS PTZ chemical kindling and amygdala electrical kindling models were established in rats. The effects of succinic acid on the behavior and afterdischarge of kindled rats were observed. The mice were pretreated with succinic acid, 30 min later, picrotoxin, a GABAA receptor antagonist was given by ip, then the effects of succinic acid on mice were observed. RESULTS Succinic acid (100-400 mg/kg, ip) dose-dependently inhibited PTZ chemical and amygdala kindled seizure (P<0.05, P<0.01), elevated the afterdischarge threshold, and reduced the Racine's stage of amygdala kindling rats (P<0.05, P<0.01); succinic acid (200-400 mg/kg, ip) inhibited picrotoxin-convulsion in mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION Succinic acid inhibits PTZ chemical and amygdala electrical kindling in rats, and the inhibition mechanism may be related to the enhancement of GABAergic system action in the brain, especially through GABAA receptors.