Depression of hippocampal low calcium field bursts by the antiepileptic drug valproic acid

The antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) reduces the occurrence of the rhythmic and synchronous bursts produced by hippocampal neurons maintained 'in vitro' and bathed in Ringer-containing low-Ca2+ (0.2 mM), high-Mg2+ (4.0 mM). In this medium, synaptic transmission is blocked, thus demon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeuroscience letters Vol. 60; no. 1; p. 57
Main Authors Agopyan, N, Avoli, M, Rieb, L, Tancredi, V
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ireland 16.09.1985
Subjects
Animals
Calcium - physiology
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology
Hippocampus - drug effects
Hippocampus - physiology
In Vitro Techniques
Ion Channels - drug effects
Male
Membrane Potentials - drug effects
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Synapses - drug effects
Synaptic Transmission - drug effects
Valproic Acid - pharmacology
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Summary:The antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) reduces the occurrence of the rhythmic and synchronous bursts produced by hippocampal neurons maintained 'in vitro' and bathed in Ringer-containing low-Ca2+ (0.2 mM), high-Mg2+ (4.0 mM). In this medium, synaptic transmission is blocked, thus demonstrating an action of VPA unrelated to potentiation of GABAergic phenomena. This conclusion is reenforced by the persistence of VPA effects in the presence of bicuculline. Also, the VPA doses effective in reducing the low-calcium synchronous burst in the hippocampal slice are similar to the free plasma levels of VPA observed to exert anticonvulsant effects in kindled rats.
ISSN:0304-3940
DOI:10.1016/0304-3940(85)90381-7