Protective effects of felbamate against hypoxia in the rat hippocampal slice.

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Abstract
Felbamate is a new dicarbamate anticonvulsant with low toxicity currently being investigated in human clinical epilepsy trials. In this study, we examined the protective effects of felbamate against hypoxia. We exposed paired rat hippocampal slices to hypoxia with and without felbamate treatment while monitoring the CA1-evoked population spike. Felbamate provided dose-dependent neuroprotection against hypoxia at concentrations of 45 mg/l and greater (p less than 0.05). At a felbamate concentration of 300 mg/l, recovery of CA1 evoked population spike amplitude after hypoxic exposure was 99% compared with 0.5% for unmedicated paired slices. The appearance and disappearance of the hypoxic injury potential was delayed in slices treated with 300 and 400 mg/l (p less than 0.05). In this model of hypoxia, felbamate provided neuroprotection against hypoxia at concentrations similar to serum felbamate levels currently being used in human clinical epilepsy trials.