Effects of kynurenic acid on amygdaloid kindling in the rat.

The anticonvulsant properties of the endogenous excitatory amino acid antagonist, kynurenic acid (KYA), were studied in prepubescent and adult rats using the amygdaloid kindling model of epilepsy. Treatment with intracerebroventricular KYA (360 nmoles (adult dose) or 240 nmoles (prepubescent dose] prior to administration of the electrical kindling stimulus significantly reduced the rate of kindling in both age groups. However, there was no significant difference between the KYA-treated and the controls in mean afterdischarge threshold in either age group. The results of this study indicate that with the kindling model KYA has a significant anticonvulsant effect in both prepubescent and adult rats.