In large animals, a more intensive TK schedule can be used to interpret CNS data in light of individual drug exposure levels. In seizure liability studies conducted in rodents, inclusion of a satellite TK group to confirm drug exposure can be valuable to avoid any impact the blood collections and/or animal restraint on EEG activity. To facilitate interpretation of video-EEG data, continuous IV infusion of the test compound may allow calculation of the plasma drug concentration at each critical observation (e.g. onset of premonitory signs, first myoclonic activity, seizure onset, etc.). The advantages of a progressive well-controlled AT13387 increase in plasma level may justify the use of an IV dosing
in seizure liability studies, even if the intended route of administration of the compound is oral. According to the ICH S7A Guideline (2001), “consideration should be given to the selection of
relevant animal models or other test systems so that scientifically valid information can be derived”. As Beagle dogs are known to be overly sensitive to idiopathic epilepsy (Edmonds et al., 1979 and Hoskins, 2000), described as a genetic disease in this breed (Sargan, 2004), the use of Beagle dogs presents caveats for seizure risk assessment in non-clinical studies. In the present study, the IV PTZ dose inducing clonic convulsions in Beagle dogs was 36.1 (3.8) mg/kg compared to 56.1 (12.7) mg/kg in cynomolgus selleck compound monkeys and 49.4 (11.7) in Sprague–Dawley
rats. Some research Beagle dogs present idiopathic epilepsy, where convulsions are noted in the absence of drug treatment. The interictal short time EEG evaluations performed in dogs with confirmed idiopathic epilepsy was normal in more than 2/3 of the animals and was not considered a useful screening method (Brauer et al., 2012). In this context, pre-study EEG may not be sufficient to detect a genetic predisposition to lower drug induced seizure threshold. In another study, EEG monitoring under anesthesia revealed high frequency and low amplitude paroxysmal discharges in most dogs confirmed to present idiopathic epilepsy (Jaggy & Bernardini, 1998). As with other species, considerable Sodium butyrate variability exists among individual dogs, which further complicates the use of a breed with documented genetic susceptibility. Table 4 presents data obtained in similar conditions and supports the relatively high susceptibility of Beagle dogs to PTZ induced myoclonus, clonic and tonic convulsions compared to cynomolgus monkeys and Sprague–Dawley rats. In previous studies, the dose of PTZ administered as SC boluses until convulsions in cynomolgus monkeys was reported to be 70 (17) mg/kg (Authier et al., 2009). Similar to results from the current study, PTZ convulsive doses in conscious or anesthetized Beagle dogs were reported at 34 (2) and 36 (5) mg/kg IV, respectively (Dürmüller et al.