Abstract
Ganaxolone (3α-hydroxy-3β-methyl-5α-pregnane-20-one), an orally active synthetic analog of the neuroactive steroid allopregnanolone, is a positive allosteric modulator of γ-aminobutyric acidA receptors with anticonvulsant properties. We sought to determine whether tolerance occurs to the anticonvulsant activity of ganaxolone in the pentylenetetrazol seizure test and whether there is cross-tolerance with diazepam. Rats were treated with two daily injections of a 2 × ED50 dose of ganaxolone (7 mg/kg s.c.), diazepam (4 mg/kg i.p.), or vehicle for 3 or 7 days. On the day after the chronic treatment periods, the anticonvulsant potencies of ganaxolone and diazepam were determined. The ED50 values for ganaxolone after 3- and 7-day treatment with ganaxolone were not significantly different from that in naive rats (ED50 = 3.5 mg/kg). In contrast, in animals that were treated chronically with ganaxolone for 7 days, there was a significant reduction in the anticonvulsant potency of diazepam (ED50 = 4.0 versus 1.9 mg/kg for naive controls). Chronic treatment with diazepam was not associated with a reduction in the potency of ganaxolone, but there was a reduction in the potency of diazepam (ED50 = 3.7 mg/kg). Plasma ganaxolone determinations indicated that the pharmacokinetic properties of ganaxolone were unchanged after 7-day chronic ganaxolone treatment. The estimated equilibrium plasma concentrations of ganaxolone associated with threshold (750–950 ng/ml) and 50% seizure protection (1215–1295 ng/ml) were similar in naive and chronically treated rats. We conclude that there is no tolerance to the anticonvulsant activity of ganaxolone nor is there cross-tolerance to ganaxolone when tolerance develops to diazepam. However, there is cross-tolerance to diazepam with chronic ganaxolone treatment.
Footnotes
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Send reprint requests to: Michael A. Rogawski, M.D., Ph.D., Epilepsy Research Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr. Room 5N-250 MSC 1408, Bethesda, MD 20892-1408. E-mail:rogawski{at}nih.gov
- Abbreviations:
- GABA
- γ-aminobutyric acid
- PTZ
- pentylenetetrazol
- AUC
- area under the curve
- Received June 13, 2000.
- Accepted August 15, 2000.
- U.S. Government
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