Effect of Harmaline on seizure induced byamygdala kindling in rats

Harmaline is one of the beta carboline of Peganumharmal. Harmaline and other carbolines are inverse agonists for benzodiazepine receptors with many inverse effects of benzodiazepines including anxiety and CNS excitement. The aim of this study is the effect of harmaline on seizure- induced by amygdala kindling in rats.

in this experimental study, eighteen kindled wistar rats (3 groups) were injected intraperitoneally with saline and on the following day, with Harmaline (50, 25, 12.5 mg/kg). After discharge duration (ADD), stage 5 duration (S5D), stage 2 latency (S2L) and stage 4 latency (S4L) of seizures were recorded and compared with those of the saline groups.

Harmaline reduced S2L and S4L in 3 groups, and increased ADD and S5D not significantly but increased ADD only in group 15 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05).

The obtained results revealed that harmaline has proconvulsant effect and maybe via stimulation of excitatory pathways or blocking of inhibitory pathways, or any other excitatory mechanisms cause increase in neuron activity and firing.