ANTIEPILEPTIC EFFECT OF CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH PHENYTOIN ON MES INDUCED EPILEPSY IN RATS

Background: The currently available antiepileptic drugs have a low therapeutic index, and provide satisfactory seizure control in only 60-70% of patients. Calcium channel blocker has shown potentials of a useful add-on drug for the existing antiepileptic drugs. Objectives: To study the effect of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) nifedipine and verapamil on maximal electroshock (MES)-induced convulsions and also to evaluate their effect in combination with Phenytoin. Methods: For this study, Male Wistar rats were used. Effects of nifedipine (5 mg/kg), verapamil (20mg/kg) alone and in combination with phenytoin (25mg/kg) were studied in MES model. Abolition of hind limb tonic extension and reduction of duration of tonic extension was considered as the index for antiepileptic activity in MES. Results: Verapamil and nifedipine produced significant antiepileptic effect alone. Verapamil and nifedipine potentiated the antiepileptic effect of phenytoin sodium. Conclusion: Dose of phenytoin sodium can be reduced in epileptic patients receiving verapamil or nifedipine for some other clinical conditions. Verapamil and nifedipine can also be used alone in the treatment of generalized tonic clonic seizures. However it needs further confirmation to establish clinical utility of calcium channel blockers. KEY WORDS: Nifedipine, verapamil, phenytoin, MES seizure rats

PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN LIVER TISSUES OF HYPERCALORIE DIET-INDUCED OBESE RATS

Objectives: Hypercalorie diet intake has been associated with many long-term complications including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Methods: A total of 12 Wistar rats either sex were used in this study. These animals were randomly divided into two groups as control and obese rats. Group 1 consists of six rats weighing 150-200 g and fed with normal pellet chow. Another six rats were fed hypercalorie/cafeteria diet to induce obesity and included in the study after 19 weeks of age. All animals were sacrificed; liver tissues were collected, weighed and sent for the histopathological examination.Results: Weight of liver tissues of was significantly more in obese rats than the control rats. Histopathological examination shows an excessive fat deposition and sinusoidal congestion in the liver tissues of obese rats.Conclusion: Increase in body weight is associated with the increase in fat deposition in the liver tissues which further develops into inflammation and necrosis of liver cells.Keywords: Wistar rats, Hypercalorie/cafeteria diet, Obese rats, Histopathological examination