Seizures in Rats Associated with Divalent Cation Inhibition of Na+–K+-ATP'ase

Abstract

In vitro determination of rat brain microsomal ATP'ase activity revealed specific inhibition of the Na+–K+-ATP'ase by cations in the order Zn2+ > Cu2+ > Fe2+ > Mn2+. Intraventricular injection of the same cations or of ouabain resulted in convulsions. Regional analysis of ATP'ase from brains of rats after convulsions showed inhibited Na+–K+-ATP'ase activity in hippocampus and hypothalamus. Hippocampus and hypothalamus were found to have the highest Na+–K+-ATP'ase activity in the rat brain.The potent inhibitors of Na+–K+-ATP'ase in vitro (ouabain, Zn2+, and Cu2+) were similarly effective in vivo (hippocampus and hypothalamus), while the inhibitors relatively ineffective in vitro (Fe2+ and Mn2+) were similarly of low potency in vivo. The potent inhibitors of Na+–K+-ATP'ase caused convulsions at low doses; the ineffective inhibitors caused convulsions only at very high doses.