title: Combined sub-threshold dosages of phenobarbital and low-frequency stimulation effectively reduce seizures in amygdala-kindled rats.
abstract: Low-frequency stimulation (LFS) is a potential therapy utilized in patients who do not achieve satisfactory control of seizures with pharmacological treatments. Here, we investigated the interaction between anticonvulsant effects of LFS and phenobarbital (a commonly used medicine) on amygdala-kindled seizures in rats. Animals were kindled by electrical stimulation of basolateral amygdala in a rapid manner (12 stimulations/day). Fully kindled animals randomly received one of the three treatment choices: phenobarbital (1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 mg/kg; i.p.; 30 min before kindling stimulation), LFS (one or 4 packages contained 100 or 200 monophasic square wave pulses, 0.1-ms pulse duration at 1 Hz, immediately before kindling stimulation) or a combination of both (phenobarbital at 3 mg/kg and LFS). Phenobarbital alone at the doses of 1, 2 and 3 mg/kg had no significant effect on the main seizure parameters. LFS application always produced anticonvulsant effects unless applied with the pattern of one package of 100 pulses, which is considered as non-effective. All the seizure parameters were significantly reduced when phenobarbital (3 mg/kg) was administered prior to the application of the non-effective pattern of LFS. Phenobarbital (3 mg/kg) also increased the anticonvulsant actions of the effective LFS pattern. Our results provide an evidence of a positive cumulative anticonvulsant effect of LFS and phenobarbital, suggesting a potential combination therapy at sub-threshold dosages of phenobarbital and LFS to achieve a satisfactory clinical effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 14115-331, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semnanian
authors.forename: Nafiseh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Atapour
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shojaei
authors.forename: Homeira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mirnajafi-Zadeh
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010634:Phenobarbital