N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists and channel blockers have different effects upon a spinal seizure model in mice.

Spinal seizures in mice induced by handling following pretreatment with a subconvulsive dose of strychnine could be blocked by competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists (D-, L-, DL-CPPene (CPPene = (E)-4-(3-phophonoprop-2-enyl)-piperazine-2-carboxylic acid), D-AP5 (D-2-amino-5-phophonovalerate)) and compounds acting at receptor-coupled modulatory sites (R-HA 966, ifenprodil). NMDA cation channel antagonists (MK-801, phencyclidine) however, resulted in ataxia, tremor and loss of righting. There are differences between NMDA antagonists acting via the receptor and the cation channel in this model of spinal seizure.