Influence of the combined administration of verapamil and phenobarbitone on brain and serum electrolytes in mice

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of action of phenobarbitone and verapamil and their concurrent use as anticonvulsant agents against chemically-induced seizures. Brain and serum Na+, Ca2+, K+ ions were measured in different groups of mice; those receiving saline [control] and others receiving the convulsive agent pentylenetetrazole in a dose of 100 mg/kg or strychnine in a dose of 1 mg/kg. In addition, brain and serum electrolytes were measured in mice treated with verapamil in a dose of 10 mg/kg and different doses of phenobarbitone in a doses of 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg] as well as various combination of one dose level of verapamil with the four selected dose levels of phenobarbitone. The results revealed that the ip administration of phenobarbitone in its selected four dose levels was able to significantly and dose-dependently lower the brain calcium level. Moreover, the co-administration of phenobarbitone in its four dose levels with the fixed dose of verapamil [10 mg/kg] was found to bring about lowering of the brain calcium content in all groups of mice treated with the various verapamil- phenobarbitone combinations