Levetiracetam inhibits kindling-induced synaptic potentiation in the dentate gyrus of freely moving rats.

A novel antiepileptic drug, levetiracetam, strongly suppresses the development of kindling, although the mechanisms by which it does so are still unknown. Kindling-induced synaptic potentiation (KIP) is considered to play an important role in the development of kindling. Therefore, we examined the effect of levetiracetam on KIP during perforant path kindling in freely moving rats. Daily administration of levetiracetam significantly suppressed the development of kindling. Furthermore, levetiracetam significantly inhibited the development of KIP during 21 days of kindling. These results suggest that levetiracetam may suppress kindling development through the suppression of KIP.