Behavioral and electroencephalographic analysis of seizures induced by intrahippocampal injection of granulitoxin, a neurotoxic peptide from the sea anemone Bunodosoma granulifera

Abstract

In this study, the behavioral and electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis of seizures induced by the intrahippocampal injection in rats of granulitoxin, a neurotoxic peptide from the sea anemone Bunodosoma granulifera, was determined. The first alterations occurred during microinjection of granulitoxin (8 µg) into the dorsal hippocampus and consisted of seizure activity that began in the hippocampus and spread rapidly to the occipital cortex. This activity lasted 20-30 s, and during this period the rats presented immobility. During the first 40-50 min after its administration, three to four other similar short EEG seizure periods occurred and the rats presented the following behavioral alterations: akinesia, facial automatisms, head tremor, salivation, rearing, jumping, barrel-rolling, wet dog shakes and forelimb clonic movements. Within 40-50 min, the status epilepticus was established and lasted 8-12 h. These results are similar to those observed in the acute phase of the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy and suggest that granulitoxin may be a useful tool not only to study the sodium channels, but also to develop a new experimental model of status epilepticus. Correspondence

Bioactive Marine Drugs and Marine Biomaterials for Brain Diseases

“…Sea anemones possess specialized structures, called tentacles, containing a wide variety of toxins that are used in the capture of prey, as well as for defence against predators [123]. APE 1–1 and APE 1–2 (5 μg/mL, each), polypeptides present in the venom of the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima Brandt, did not affect Na + current activation, but provoked delayed and incomplete inactivation of the current passing through fast Na + channels in mouse neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells [124].…”

Effects of Anthopleurin-Q on the Intracellular Free Ca2+ Concentration in Cultured Rat Cortical Neurons

“…For example, ATX II, a sea anemone neurotoxin derives from Anemonia sulcata , selectively enhanced persistent Na + current in hippocampal and neocortical pyramidal neurons [ 7 , 8 ] . Granulitoxin, a neurotoxic peptide from the sea anemone Bunodosoma granulifera, could induce seizures and related changes of electroencenphalogram in vivo [ 9 ] . However, still with respect to the pharmacological eff ects on the cardiovascular system, no studies on the central nervous system have been conducted thus far using AP-Q.…”