Nicotine reduces mortality of developing rats exposed to high-altitude hypoxia and partially suppresses the duration of cortical epileptic afterdischarges
2011
Abstrakt
This study focused on the possible beneficial effects of nicotine against the high-altitude hypoxia (9000 m for one hour). 15 min prior to hypoxia exposition rats (12- and 35-day-old) were treated with nicotine. Next day electrodes have been implanted and the effects of nicotine and hypoxia (or both factors) on duration of afterdischarges (ADs) were tested.
Administration of nicotine declined the hypoxia-induced mortality in 35-day-old animals. Nicotine pretreatment had no effect on ADs duration in 12-day-old pups, therefore brought about suppression of ADs in 35-day-old animals.
Taken together, our data show that nicotine exhibits an anticonvulsant effect that is age-dependent.