Effect of di-n-propylacetate and γ-acetylenic GABA on hyperbaric oxygen-induced seizures and GABA metabolism.

The administration of γ-acetylenic GABA or di-n-propylacetate to mice delayed the onset of hyperbaric oxygen-induced seizures in the animals. The former compound caused large increases in brain GABA content and strong inhibition of glutamate decarboxylase activity, whereas the latter compound brough about only moderate increases in brain GABA level and had little or no effect on the enzyme activity. It is suggested that the GABA system is not involved in the anticonvulsant mechanism of γ-acetylenic GABA but may play a role in the action of di-n-propylacetate.