Anticonvulsant activity of diphenylhydantoin: pharmacological evidence for an alpha-adrenergic mechanism of action.
Several studies have shown that the noradrenergic system, or more precisely the alpha-adrenergic system, is implicated in the mechanism of action of DPH (Rudzik et al., 1966). In the present study we have demonstrated that prazosin, a relatively specific blocker of post-synaptic alpha-adrenergic receptors, antagonized the anticonvulsant activity of DPH on 3 models of convulsions: convulsions in the quaking mouse, convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol, convulsions provoked by electroshock. The psychotropic properties of DPH have not been clearly demonstrated in man. It would, therefore, be of interest to perform controlled clinical studies in order to predict possible consequences of treatment in epileptics who are treated at the same time with antagonists of alpha-post-synaptic receptors.
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004597:Electroshock; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008821:Mice, Quaking; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D010672:Phenytoin; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D011224:Prazosin