Experimental approach to the effects of phenytoin on some serum trace elements, body growth and motor activity

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of oral administration of phenytoin 0.9 mg/kg body weight [B.W.] for mice and 0.32 mg/kg B.W. for rabbits for 15 consecutive days on the serum levels of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron and weight changes as well as on the motor activity. Two types of experimental animals were used viz rabbits and mice to visualize if any species difference might exist in response to phenytoin treatment. The results showed that phenytoin treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of zinc and iron, significantly increased the level of copper, whilist the serum magnesium concentration was not significantly altered in the animals tested [mice or rabbits]. The serum calcium level was decreased significantly in mice but not in rabbits [which might be due to species difference between mice and rabbits]. Also in the present study control animals receiving only saline treatment showed the normal growth pattern and their weight increased considerably after the 15 days treatment period, while the weight of those receiving phenytoin remained nearly as such and did not show any significant increase following the treatment period. The motor activity of mice was found to be imparied after phyenytoin treatment. Further investigations should be done to explore the relation between phenytoin treatment and different trace elements regarding side effects and the growth of children