Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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The effect of the nootropic drug piracetam (100 mg/kg) on kindled seizures, kindling-induced learning deficits, and histological alterations due to changes in central excitability was investigated in Wistar rats. The animals were kindled by repeated i.p. injections of an initially subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). As a control, piracetam or physiological saline was given 60 minutes before PTZ. ⋯ Interestingly, piracetam counteracted this damage efficaciously. The effects of piracetam are discussed in terms of its cytoprotective action. It is suggested that a coadministration of piracetam with clinically used antiepileptic drugs might be useful in antiepileptic therapy.