On the relation between cerebral cysteinyl-leukotriene formation and epileptic seizures.

In gerbils pentylenetetrazole- or handling-induced seizures were accompanied by cerebral formation of small amounts of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LT) but large amounts of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha. By contrast, in rats injected with pentylenetetrazole or bicuculline very large amounts of PGF2 alpha but no cysteinyl-LT could be detected in the brain tissues. The data indicate that at least in rats the extensive neuronal activity during tonic-clonic convulsions is not necessarily sufficient for the activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Apparently important species differences do exist.