Influence of Allopurinol on Evoked Cortical Afterdischarges During Early Ontogenesis

Abstract

The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis, whether repeated allopurinol pre-treatment (in dose of 135 mg/kg s.c.) can influence changes of brain excitability caused by long-term hypoxia exposition in young immature rats. Rat pups were exposed together with their mother in to an intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (simulated altitude of 7 000 m) since the day of birth till the 11th day (youngest experimental group) or 17th day for 8 hours a day. Allopurinol was administered daily immediately before each hypoxia exposition. The duration of evoked afterdischarges (ADs) and the shape of evoked graphoelements were evaluated in 12, 18, 25 and 35-day-old freely moving male pups. Hypobaric hypoxia prolonged the duration of ADs in 12, 18 and 25-day-old rats. The ADs were prolonged in 35-day-old rats only after the first stimulation. Allopurinol shorted the duration of ADs only in 12-day-old pups. In older experimental group the effect of allopurinol treatment was less pronounced.