Protective effect of the KCNQ activator flupirtine on a model of repetitive febrile seizures

Activation of KCNQ-channels has been shown to decrease or reduce the propagation of neuronal excitation in the immature central nervous system, and KCNQ activators represent a new class of anticonvulsant compounds. Their effectiveness has been demonstrated in many seizure models but not in repetitive febrile seizures (RFS) models. This study aimed to test whether the KCNQ channel activator flupirtine is also effective for RFS in rats. RFS were induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at postnatal day 10 (P10) in a warm water bath for eight consecutive days with or without the pre-administration of flupirtine or phenobarbital. As results, both drugs significantly increased the latency and decreased the rate of febrile seizures. Furthermore, seizures in the flupirtine group had a significantly shorter duration and were less severe compared with the phenobarbital group. The flupirtine-treated group showed less impairment in learning and memory and less obvious pathological changes in the brain following RFS compared with the phenobarbital-treated group. In summary, flupirtine appears to be effective in RFS prophylaxis and may merit further study as a candidate for the treatment of RFS in infants and children.