Anticonvulsant Activity and Effects of Sodium Dipropylacetate on Cerebral 5-Hydroxytryptamine and γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Reserpinized Mice

Abstract

The anticonvulsant activity of sodium dipropylacetate (DPA) and its effects on the cerebral 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolisms in the reserpinized mice have been studied to know the mechanism of action of DPA. The results are as follows; 1. DPA elevated the turnover of the cerebral 5HT and the content of the cerebral 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Phenobartital sodium (PB) showed no effects. 2. DPA elevated the cerebral GABA content in the reserpinized mice. 3. In maximal electroshock seizure, the seizure-protecting activities of DPA and PB were lower in the reserpinized mice than in the normal. 4. In pentylenetetrazole seizure, the seizure-protecting activity of DPA in the reserpinized mice was the same as in the normal. In combined administration, L-di-hydroxyphenylalanine decreased the activity of DPA in the reserpinized mice. The activity of PB decreased in the reserpinized mice. From these results, it was suggested that DPA showed the anticonvulsant activity partially through its effect on the cerebral metabolism of 5HT as well as GABA. © 1978, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.