Modulation of the antiepileptic activity of sodium valproate by lithium chloride against pentylene-tetrazole and strychnine-indced seizures in mice.

ABSTRACT

In this study, the influence of lithium chloride [LiCl] in a dose of 10 mg/kg on the anticonvulsant activity of sodium valproate [VAL] in doses of 200 or 600 mg/kg was valuated against both pentylenetetrazol [PTZ; 100 mg/kg] and strychnine [ST; 1 mg/kg]-induced seizures and mortality. The results revealed that the ip administration of VAL alone was effective against seizures and mortality induced by both PTZ and ST. Significant increases in the onset of seizures and the MST as well as the percent of mice protected from death were recorded. In contrast, the administration of LiCl alone significantly reduced the onset of seizures and offered no protection against death caused by the same convulsive agents, PTZ and ST. Compared with valproate- treated mice, combination of lithium chloride and valproate led to a reduction in the MST of mice and an increase in the percent of protection of animals treated with PTZ and an increase in the MST of mice as well as the percent of protection in the ST- treated group of mice. Also, the results revealed that the combined administration of LiCl and VAL into mice subjected to the test convulsive agents resulted in reduced serum and brain concentration of electrolytes in FTZ-treated animals. Also, significant lowering only in the brain Na+, K+ and Cd2+ contents was observed in mice treated with ST