A PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE SPONTANEOUS CONVULSIVE ACTIVITY INDUCED BY 1,2-DIHYDROXYBENZENE (CATECHOL) IN THE ANAESTHETIZED MOUSE

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Abstract
1 The convulsive activity induced by catechol has been examined in anaesthetized mice either by determining the CD50 for the convulsions in drug-treated and control animals, or by studying the effects of various drugs on the total whole body activity. 2 The results indicate that catecholamines play no part in the mechanism of action of catechol. Drugs which alter cerebral catecholamine levels had no effect on the convulsions, nor did the α- and β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs. 3 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) could possibly be important, though results with drugs which either change brain 5-HT levels, or block 5-HT receptors were inconsistent. 4 γ-Aminobutyric acid also appears not to be involved in the mechanism of action of catechol. 5 The results strongly suggest that catechol primarily activates a central cholinergic system, in that muscarinic and nicotinic receptor blocking drugs inhibit, and anticholinesterases potentiate the convulsions.