INCREASED ANTICONVULSANT EFFECT OF PHENYTOIN IN AGING BDF1 MICE

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 229  (1) , 231-236
Abstract
The anticonvulsant effect of phenytoin was examined in BDF1 mice of both sexes and various ages (6, 12, 24 and 30 mo. old) using the abolition of the tonic hindlimb extensor component of maximal electroshock seizure as the index. The minimal effective plasma concentration of phenytoin was significantly lower in 24- and 30-mo.-old mice compared with young adult (6 mo. old) mice. All older groups (24 and 30 mo. old, both sexes) showed significantly lower minimal effective brain concentrations compared with respective younger (6 and 12 mo. old) animal groups. Studies using nearly 2-fold different intensities of electroshock (30 and 55 mA) showed almost identical results. In adult mice, the brain evidently becomes more sensitive with age to phenytoin with regard to its anticonvulsant effect.