Abstract
We report that carbamazepine (Tegretol), a drug that is useful for the treatment of complex partial seizures, enhances outward, voltage-dependent K+ currents generated by rat neocortical cells in culture and recorded with patch-clamping techniques. This effect is seen in the presence of therapeutic concentrations of carbamazepine (10-20 μM). Furthermore, at these doses carbamazepine does not influence voltage-dependent inward Na+ and Ca2+ currents recorded in these cells. The action exerted by carbamazepine on K+ currents is a novel finding and might represent an important mechanism for controlling neocortical excitability and thus the generation of epileptiform activity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 545-547 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology |
Volume | 68 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 1990 |
Keywords
- antiepileptic drugs
- carbamazepine
- potassium currents
- rat neocortex
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Pharmacology