Background: Methylxanthines routinely consumed as beverages and available over the counter, are popular as Central Nervous System [CNS] stimulants and are potentially ictgenic in higher doses. Clinically such seizures are reported to be resistant to treatment with conventional anti-epileptic drugs [AEDs] and may be fatal. Purpose: Present study evaluated the effects of gabapentin in aminophylline-induced recurrent generalized seizures [RGSs] which is a model of human status epilepticus[SE]. Methods: The protective effects of increasing doses [100, 200, 500 mg/kg] of gabapentin [GBP] administered by intraperitoneal route [i.p.] were tested on aminophylline [AMPH]-induced [280 mg/kg] seizures in male albino Swiss mice. Results: Results showed a significant delay in the onset of myoclonic jerks and tonic seizures [p < 0.02 to p < 0.0001], in mice pretreated with GBP at doses of 100, 200, 500 mg/kg, when compared using Post Hoc Mann-Whitney test. Mice treated with AMPH alone demonstrated mortality in 80% animals within 120 minutes and remaining 20% in 24 hr, while mice pretreated with GBP at doses of 100, 200, 500 mg/kg, showed reduction in mortality to 20%, 22.2% and 30%, in 120 min; and 80%, 77.8% and 40% in 24 hrs. Conclusion: The present study using single, doses of GBP showed incomplete protective effects, against AMPH-induced convulsions indicating partial protective effects of GBP. Data on mortality demonstrates fatal outcome of AMPH-induced convulsions depicting human status-epilepticus [SE]. Further studies involving chronic administration of GBP alone and in combination with other AEDs, to evaluate complete protective effects against 24 hr mortality, may be suggested.

doi : 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.2009.160404

Competing interests: None.  Source of Funding: None

Received Date: 23 July 2009     Revised Date: 01 Sept 2009     Accepted Date: 19 Sept 2009