The Effect of Anticonvulsant Drugs on GABA-Stimulated Chloride Uptake

Eight anticonvulsant drugs – including clonazepam, diazepam and phenobarbital – were tested for their effects on GABA-stimulated chloride uptake in rat cerebral cortical microsacs (unfiltered synaptoneurosomes). “Mid” and “high” therapeutic concentrations were screened, and, if significant enhanceme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of neurological sciences 1994-02, Vol.21 (1), p.3-8
Main Authors: Francis, J., Mihic, S.J., Sneddon, W.B., Burnham, W.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anticonvulsants - pharmacology
Chlorides - metabolism
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacology
In Vitro Techniques
Male
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, GABA-A - drug effects
Synaptosomes - drug effects
Synaptosomes - metabolism
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Summary:Eight anticonvulsant drugs – including clonazepam, diazepam and phenobarbital – were tested for their effects on GABA-stimulated chloride uptake in rat cerebral cortical microsacs (unfiltered synaptoneurosomes). “Mid” and “high” therapeutic concentrations were screened, and, if significant enhancement was found, full concentration-response tests were done. In the initial screens, enhancement of GABA-stimulated uptake was found only with phenobarbital, clonazepam and diazepam. In subsequent concentration-response tests, the effects of phenobarbital were found to occur throughout the range of normal, anticonvulsant concentrations, whereas the effects of clonazepam and diazepam were observed only above the concentrations normally used for the chronic control of seizures or anxiety. These data suggest that phenobarbital's anticonvulsant effects are mediated via the GABAA receptor complex, but that the low-dose effects of the benzodiazepines may be mediated via some other mechanism.
ISSN:0317-1671
2057-0155
DOI:10.1017/S031716710004868X