Antiseizure Activity of Novel γ-Aminobutyric Acid (A) Receptor Subtype-Selective Benzodiazepine Analogues in Mice and Rat Models

Abstract
The antiseizure activity of benzodiazepines (BDZs) 1−5 in mice and rats as animal models is described. These BDZs have selective efficacy for α2β3γ2 and α3β3γ2 GABAA-receptors. Significant anticonvulsant activity with little or no motor impairment and therapeutic indexes (TI) of 2.8−44 (mice, ip) were observed for compounds 2−4 in the subcutaneous metrazole seizure (scMET) test. In rats, orally (po) the TI was >5 to 105. These compounds represent novel leads in the search for anticonvulsants devoid of sedative, ataxic, and amnestic side effects.