Effects of phenytoin, carbamazepine, and clonazepam on cortex- and amygdala-evoked potentials.
Multiple doses of phenytoin, carbamazepine, and clonazepam were tested against single- and double-pulse evoked potentials. Evoked responses were triggered from either the amygdala or the cortex and were recorded in both monosynaptic sites and the mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF). In accordance with previous studies of spinal potentials, it was expected that all three drugs would display a depressant action. Contrary to expectation, only clonazepam had any significant effect, and this drug was effective only against potentials triggered in the amygdala and recorded in the MRF. These data appear inconsistent with the traditional belief that anticonvulsants block seizure spread by antagonizing transmission in neural pathways.
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D002998:Clonazepam; D010672:Phenytoin