Penicillinase and the convulsant action of penicillin

Michael J. Gutnick, David A. Prince*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Experiments were performed on acutely and chronically prepared cats to study the effects of penicillinase on the convulsant action of penicillin. Parenteral penicillinase injection significantly shortened the time course of the generalized electrical and behavioral seizure activity which occurred after administration of large doses of IM penicillin to chronically implanted cats. Penicillinase had no effect on spontaneous or flash-evoked EEG activities when topically applied to the cortex in concentrations of 400,000 units per cubic centimeter. Incubation of penicillin with penicillinase in vitro completely neutralized the capacity of the penicillin to produce epileptogenic foci when directly applied to the cortex of acute preparations. Application of penicillinase to already established penicillin epileptogenic foci shortened the time course of the focal discharge. Penicillinase had no effect on strychnine epileptogenesis. These results suggest a possible use for penicillinase in the treatment of penicillin encephalopathy in man.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)759-764
Number of pages6
JournalNeurology
Volume21
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1971
Externally publishedYes

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