Partial effect of nimodipine on evoked epileptic seizures in young rats.

The present work studied the effect of calcium channel blocker (nimodipine) on epileptic seizures elicited by electrical stimulation of somatosensory cortex in young rats exposed to hypoxia. Rats were exposed to different patterns of short-term hypoxia (hypobaric or normobaric) and reactions of cortical neurones were registered. In the youngest animals (12-day-old), the effect was minimal, in older rats prolongation or shortening of evoked epileptic seizures were registered after two types of hypoxia. The decrease of the duration of evoked epileptic seizures in control 12-day-old rats and any effect in older animals (in 25- and 35-day-old) after nimodipine administration was observed. In older rats (25- and 35-day-old) exposed to hypobaric hypoxia after pre-treatment with nimodipine (L-type calcium channel antagonist) the duration of epileptic seizures after repeated stimulation was increased.