title: Effects of retigabine on rhythmic synchronous activity of human neocortical slices.
abstract: The antiepileptic effects of the novel antiepileptic drug retigabine (D-23129) [N-(2-amino-4-(4-flurobenzylamino)phenyl) carbamid acid ethyl ester] were tested in neocortical slice preparations (n=23) from 17 patients (age, 3-42 years) who underwent surgery for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Epileptiform events consisted of spontaneously occurring rhythmic sharp waves, as well as of epileptiform field potentials (EFP) elicited by superfusion with Mg(2+)-free solution without or with addition of 10 micromol/l bicuculline. (1) Spontaneous rhythmic sharp waves (n=6), with retigabine application, the repetition rate was decreased down to 12-47% of initial value (10 micromol/l, n=3) after 180 min or suppressed completely within 12 min (50 micromol/l, n=3). (2) Low Mg(2+) EFP (n=9), with retigabine application, the repetition rate was decreased down to 50 and 65% of initial value (10 micromol/l; n=2) after 180 min or suppressed completely after 9-55 min (10, 50 and 100 micromol/l; n=2 in each case). In one slice only a transient reduction of the repetition rate was seen with 10 micromol/l retigabine. (3) Low Mg(2+) EFP with addition of bicuculline (n=8), with retigabine application, the repetition rate was decreased down to 12-55% of initial value (10 micromol/l; n=4) after 180 min or suppressed completely after 6-30 min (50 and 100 micromol/l; n=2 in each case). The depressive effect of retigabine was reversible in all but one slice. The results show a clear antiepileptic effect of retigabine in human neocortical slices on spontaneously occurring rhythmic sharp waves and different types of induced seizure activity.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie, Universität Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 27a, D-48149, Münster, Germany. straub@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Straub
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Köhling
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Höhling
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rundfeldt
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tuxhorn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pannek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Speckmann
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002219:Carbamates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019579:Neocortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002219:Carbamates; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D010655:Phenylenediamines; C101866:ezogabine; D008274:Magnesium; D001640:Bicuculline