ABSTRACT
Dopamine (DA) receptor supersensitivity was induced in albino rats by haloperidol (5 mg/kg, ip day, for 18 days) and after 48 hr carbamazepine (CBZ) was administered in graded doses. The animals were subjected to Maximal Electroshock Seizures (MES) test, Minimal Electroconvulsive Threshold (MET) test and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsions test. Haloperidol pretreatment marginally increased the effect of CBZ against PTZ induced seizures, but not against electrically induced seizures (MES and MET tests).
Subject(s)
Animals , Anticonvulsants/pharmacology , Carbamazepine/pharmacology , Electroshock , Female , Haloperidol/pharmacology , Male , Pentylenetetrazole , Rats , Receptors, Dopamine/drug effects , Seizures/etiologyABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to see whether the recently reported synergism between lithium and carbamazepine (CBZ) in mania also extends against convulsions. The anti-convulsant effect of various doses of CBZ was assessed in albino rats pretreated with vehicle or lithium salt (0.54 mEg/kg/day, p.o. for 9 days). The animals were subjected to 3 tests: maximum electro shock seizures (MES); minimum electro convulsive thresholds (MET) and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsions: abolition of hind limb extension after electro shock, increases in the MET for appearance of neck jerk and absence of convulsions for one hr after PTZ were taken as parameters of the anticonvulsive effect respectively. In the MES and MET tests lithum did not alter the anticonvulsive effect of CBZ. Lithium, however, potentiated the anticonvulsant effect of CBZ against PTZ-induced convulsions.