The effect of oral and subcutaneous meperidine on the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) in mice.

The likely effect of oral and subcutaneous meperidine on maximal electroshock seizure (MES) in mice was studied. Convulsive current fifty (CC50) was assessed to be 46m A, an electrical pulse causing seizure in 50% of test animals. Doses of 15, 30, 60, or 120 mg/kg meperidine given orally or subcutaneously increased the convulsion threshold of MES as evidenced by a significant dose-dependent reduction of MES below control value (p < .05). An initial hyperactivity reaction that was worsened by noisy and tactile stimuli and tail erection followed by sedation was observed after s.c. injection of 60 or 120 mg/kg meperidine. No significant difference was found between meperidine-induced reductions of control MES values obtained one and two hours after oral doses; the depressed MES values obtained one hour after oral administration of meperidine were significantly different and more powerful than those obtained two hours after s.c. drug administrations (p < .05). Combining previous literature information with the present results, we conclude that such an effect of meperidine can be attributed to cerebellar stimulation.