title: Felbamate inhibits dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels in central neurons.
abstract: The effect of the antiepileptic drug felbamate (FBM) on high-voltage-activated Ca++ currents was studied in cortical and neostriatal neurons acutely isolated from adult rats. Patch-clamp recordings in the whole-cell configuration were performed. Ba++ ions as the charge carrier for Ca++ channels were used. In pyramidal cortical cells, FBM dose-dependently reduced high-voltage-activated Ca++ currents in all the tested neurons. At concentrations of 30 to 100 nM, FBM already produced a significant inhibition of high-voltage-activated Ca++ currents (-6/-15%). At saturating concentrations (1-3 microM), FBM-mediated inhibition averaged 44%. The responses were fully reversible. The dose-response curves revealed IC50 of 504 nM. In striatal neurons, FBM decreased the same conductances by about 28%; the threshold dose was 1 to 2 microM, with an IC50 of 18.7 microM. In both structures, the observed inhibitions were unaffected by omega-conotoxin GVIA and omega-agatoxin IVA, suggesting that N-like channels and P-Like channels were not involved in the FBM-mediated responses. In addition, when omega-conotoxin GVIA and omega-agatoxin IVA (100 nM) were coapplied, the FBM-mediated inhibition on the remaining Ca++ currents averaged 87%. The FBM responses were occluded by micromolar concentrations of nifedipine, supporting a direct interference with dihydropyridine-sensitive channels. It is concluded that the described effect of FBM might represent an efficacious mechanism for either controlling spike discharge from epileptic foci or protecting neurons from excessive Ca++ loading. In both cases, FBM would act as a broad spectrum neuroprotective agent.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Neurologica, Dip. Sanità Pubblica, Università di Roma for Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calabresi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siniscalchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000078328:Felbamate; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010455:Peptides; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA; D000078328:Felbamate