Modification of convulsive behaviour and body temperature in mice by intracerebroventricular administration of prostaglandins, arachidonic acid and the soluble acetylsalicylic acid salt lysine acetylsalicylate.

The effects of centrally injected prostaglandins (PGE1 and PGF2 alpha), arachidonic acid and lysine acetylsalicylate were examined on the seizure activity and temperature changes produced by pentylentetrazole (PTZ) and also on maximal electroshock (MES) seizures. PGE1 antagonised both PTZ and MES seizures whilst PGF2 alpha had the reverse effect. In addition both PGs alone produced hyperthermia but attenuated PTZ hypothermia. Arachidonic acid protected against PTZ--but potentiated MES--seizures whilst lysine acetylsalicylate augmented the effects of both convulsive stimuli. Lysine acetylsalicylate and arachidonic acid alone were transiently hyperthermic and also antagonised PTZ hypothermia though the total net effect may have been due to a functional antagonism. It is suggested from these findings that PGE1 has anticonvulsant effects whilst PGF2 alpha promotes seizures neither of these properties correlating with thermoregulatory actions.