Effect of ivermectin on lindane-induced seizure in mice

Ivermectin is a macrocyclic lactone widely used as an antiparasitic agent in domestic animals to the treatment of some nematodes and is considered the drug of choice forlymphatic filariasis and river blindness (onchocerciasis) in humans. A number of studies have shown that ivermectin has anticonvulsant effect in a range of animal seizuremodels. It is likely that the anticonvulsant effects are mediated via the GABAA receptor. Binding studies showed that ivermectin binds to the different sites of GABAA receptor. Lindane، an organochlorine insecticide، is widely used as a pesticide in agriculture andectoparasites in human and veterinary medicine. It has been shown that lindane is a seizure-induced agent in animals and humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ivermectin on lindane-induced seizure in mice. In this experimental study، animals pretreated with different doses of ivermectin (10،20،40،60 and 80 mg/kg) intraperitonealy، 90 min before intraperitonealy injection of lindane (50 mg/kg). Afterinjection of lindane، clonic and tonic seizure was investigated. Our results showed that ivermectin dose dependently decreased lindane-induced seizure. Ivermectin 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg had least (p<0. 05) and greatest (p<0. 001) anticonvulsant effects، respectively. Our results suggest that ivermectin had anticonvulsant activity probably via effect on GABAA receptor. et. J. of