On the Anticonvulsive Effect of Quinidine I. Experimental investigation of somatomotor, vegetative and bioelectrical aspects of convulsive seizures elicited by electroshocks

Abstract

In spite of widespread therapeutic use of quinidine in humtps, there has been practically no report on the effects of this drug on the central nervous system.Classical experiments have shown toxic action on the protoplasm and inhibition of cell-respiration, achieved by quinine and its dextrogyrous isomer, quinidine. Datta and Basu (3) recently demonstrated that quinidine inhibits a certain chain of webs' cycle (the step from cetoglutarate to succinate), while Uyeki, Geiling and Dubois (15) reported inhibition of ATP-ase due to this drug. On the other hand, other studies revealed the enhancing effects of quinine on certain hypnotical and analgesic drugs (Orahovats, Lehman and Chapin, 13). Taking into account the importance of intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates in brain activity, as well as the preceding data showing that quinidine acts by inhibiting certain stages of this metabolism, we undertook to study the effects of this drug on one of the most violent manifestations of brain excitability: the epileptic seizure. This is the first of a series of notes concerning experimental work on the inhibitory influence of quinidine on epileptic seizures and is intended to convey information related to various aspects of the convulsive seizure induced by transcerebral electroshock. METHODInvestigations were performed on 61 cats.At the beginning of each experiment, a constant threshold of stimulation by transcerebral electroshock was established for each animal. Progressive doses of a solution of 1 yo quinidine sulphate (540 mg/kg) were then injected intravenously and the influence of this treatment on the electro-convulsive seizure was carefully observed. In a number of animals, the potentiation of the effect of intravenously injected quinidine by intra-muscular administration of certain doses of phenobarbital was studied; these doses were, in themselves, incapable of inhibiting convulsive seizures induced, by electroshocks.Fifty-two animals were clinically studied by analyzing somatomotor aspects of References p . 274

The Early History (1909–1961) ofEpilepsia, the Journal of the International League Against Epilepsy, and Its Echoes Today

“…The first volume is an excellent series of papers, almost all of them of the highest quality; some remain classics to this day. Among the best papers of this exceptional issue, in my own opinion, are those of: Wyke (1959), Scholz (1959), Gastaut et al (1959), Servit (1959), Miller and Neill (1959), Dongier (1959), Kurland (1959), Hunter (1959), Noguchi et al (1959), Steriade and Stoica (1960a,b), Pond and Bidwell (1960), Gibson (1960), Bloom et al (1960), Buchthal and Svensmark (1960), Critchley et al (1960), Gastaut et al (1960), Gibbs and Gibbs (1960), Merlis and Misrahi (1960), Morrell (1960), O'Leary and Goldring (1959, 1960), and Ward (1960). This high standard was repeated, and in 1961, a wide range of subjects was covered, keeping with Walshe's stated intentions, but gone are the reports of ILAE sections or indeed any ILAE news or reports.…”