Paraplegia observed during maximal electroshock seizure test in rats
Bhavsar, V.H.; Batham, A.K.; Saifi, A.Q.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 65(5): 734-737
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 924574 Document Number: 121128
During routine pharmacological studies of anticonvulsant drugs [carbamazepine, diazepam, diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbitone] in rats, some animals developed paralysis of the hind limbs. Animals showing typical convulsant response to maximum electroshock did not develop it, but those showing severe clonus instead of typical seizures suffered from it. In animals in whom seizures were prevented by anticonvulsant drugs, the incidence of paraplegia was observed to be much greater. There was a close correlation between development of severe clonus and paraplegia. Antispreading action of anticonvulsant drugs may be responsible for the observed disturbance. Paraplegia may be due to a functional exhaustion of the neurones which have to bear the entire load of stimulus.