title: Anticonvulsant profile of nimodipine and nitrendipine against pentylenetetrazole induced seizures in rats.
abstract: The activity of nimodipine and nitrendipine against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in Albino rats was studied alone and in combination with valproate. The median effective dose [ED50] of valproate, nimodipine and nitrendipine were initially determined. All the 3 drugs were injected i.p. 30 min before the induction of seizures. Seizures were induced by PTZ 85 mg/kg i.p., and subsequently the effect of combining ED50 doses of nimodipine and nitrendipine with ED50 dose of valproate was evaluated. ED50 of valproate and nitrendipine were 129 and 2.5 mg/kg respectively. ED50 of nimodipine could not be established since a dose-response relationship was not obtained. Hence, for the purpose of combination studies, 4 mg/kg of nimodipine was used. Both nimodipine (4 mg/kg) and nitrendipine (2.5 mg/kg) decreased the ED50 of valproate from 129 to 40 mg/kg. Both nimodipine and nitrendipine potentiate the activity of valproate against PTZ induced seizures and can be considered as potential adjuvant anticonvulsants which merit further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pandhi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D009553:Nimodipine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D009568:Nitrendipine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole