Aims: 

Lindane, an organochlorine pesticide, was found to provoke generalized tonic-clonic seizures in rats. Acute administration of ethanol may suppress seizure activity. The aim of our study was to investigate possible correlation between dose of ethanol and its antiseizure activity in lindane-treated rats, measured by behavioural and electroencephalographic changes.

Methods: 

Male Wistar rats (n = 50) were divided into following groups: 1. control (0.9% NaCl); 2. dimethylsulfoxide- treated group; 3. lindane- treated (L) group (8 mg/kg); 4. groups that received ethanol in doses 2 g/kg, 1 g/kg and 0.5 g/kg 30 minutes prior to lindane; E2, E1 and E0.5 group, respectively. All substances were administered intraperitoneally. For EEG recordings, animals were implanted electrodes into frontal, parietal and occipital lobe. Epileptic behaviours were scored according to a scale: 0-no response, 1-lower jaw twitching, head nodding, 2-myoclonic body jerks, 3-generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, 4-status epilepticus.

Results: 

The incidence and median grade of epileptic behaviour were significantly higher in E0.5 group compared to E1 and E2 groups (p < 0.05) and were similar to the incidence and median grade in L group. The incidence of epileptic behaviour was higher in E1 than in E2 group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Latencies (time to the onset of the first seizure) were not significantly different among experimental groups. EEG findings correlate with behavioural changes. Ethanol, in all doses applied, reduced epileptiform activity to sporadic spikes, the phenomenon seen in animals with grade1 behavioural sign.

Conclusions: 

Our results indicate that ethanol reduces the incidence and severity of seizures in lindane-treated rats in a dose-dependent manner.