Effect of restraint stress on anticonvulsant actions of phenobarbitone & diphenylhydantoin in rats

Abstract

Restraint stress (1, 2 and 4 hr) produced a time-related potentiation of the anticonvulsant activity of sub-anticonvulsant (ED0) dose (2.5 mg/kg, ip) of phenobarbitone (PB) and diphenylhydantoin (DPH), against maximal electroshock-induced seizures in rats. Restraint stress (4 hr)-induced potentiation of PB and DPH anticonvulsant actions were significantly attenuated after pharmacological treatments known to inhibit central serotonergic and prostaglandin (PG) activity, but were unaffected by drug-induced inhibition of endogenous corticoid synthesis. The results suggest the involvement of serotonin and PGs, but not endogenous corticoids, in restraint stress effects on PB and DPH actions.