Interactions of aminophylline and three benzodiazepine compounds with amygdala-kindled seizures in rats

Fully amygdala-kindled rats were used to study the effect of diazepam, RO 15-1788, and CGS-8216 on aminophylline-induced prolongation of elicited kindled afterdischarges. Similar proportional reductions in seizure afterdischarge durations were seen with diazepam and with RO 15-1788 after aminophylline although the absolute length of the afterdischarge durations were increased significantly with both drugs after aminophylline. The partial agonist effect of the benzodiazepine antagonist RO 15-1788 was demonstrated before and after aminophylline pretreatment. However, no specific interaction (pro- or anticonvulsant) was demonstrated with the benzodiazepine antagonist CGS-8216 before or after aminophylline pretreatment. Together these data do not support the theory that the prolongation of elicited kindled seizures by the methylxanthine, aminophylline, is through a specific benzodiazepine receptor mechanism.