Effects of betaine on seizures in the rat.

The ability of betaine to block homocysteine, pentylenetetrazol, and electroshock induced seizures in mice has previously been observed. In this study, betaine administered IP and intraventricularly to rats blocked pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures, but IP betaine did not block audiogenic seizures. Intraventricular betaine was about 1000-fold more potent than IP betaine in blocking PTZ-induced seizures. Glycine, a component of the betaine molecule, was ineffective. It is concluded that betaine has an appreciable but selective effect in controlling experimental seizures in rats. This effect is mediated directly by the brain, and is not due to metabolism of betaine to glycine.