No abstract

BackgroundAntiepileptic drugs used to avert epileptic seizures necessitate prolonged duration for improved efficacy and could induce some side effects.PurposeThe present study investigated the effect of chronic administration of two common antiepileptic drugs – gabapentin and carbamazepine, on the histomorphology of the hippocampus and striatum in adult rats.Methods25 adult male Wistar rats were grouped randomly into 5 groups. 3 groups were administered either therapeutic doses of gabapentin (16 mg/kg) or carbamazepine (20 mg/kg) or sub-therapeutic dose of gabapentin plus carbamazepine (8 + 10 mg/kg). To confirm anticonvulsant effects, these animals were kindled for seizures at sub-maximal electroshock. Appropriate negative and positive controls were given normal saline. At the end of treatment, brain tissues were obtained and processed for histological procedures.ResultsThe study confirm significant decrease (P<0.001) in convulsion parameters tonic flexion, tonic extension and clonic convulsion, between drug treated groups and electroshock control. Histological studies revealed significant increase (p<0.001) in neurons showing features of degeneration in the hippocampus, for drug treated groups as compared to normal and electroshock control. Also, drug treatment reduced nissl activity in both hippocampus and striatum.ConclusionChronic administration of gabapentin and carbamazepine may cause increase in neurodegenerative changes in the adult brain.

Objectives: Epilepsy is the most common non-infectious neurologic disease in developing African countries following stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Most conventional antiepileptic drugs, due to their centrally acting potentials have been implicated in the deregulation of reproductive hormones. This study assessed the effect of the single and combined administration of vigabatrin (VIG) and carbamazepine (CBZ) on the pituitary-gonadal axis of male Wistar rats.Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10). The animals were administered with distilled water (0.1 ml/kg/day), VIG (200 mg/kg/day), CBZ (200 mg/kg/day), VIG-CBZ combination (100 mg/kg/day each) and VIG-CBZ combination (200 mg/kg/day each) for 8 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, 5 rats from each group were sacrificed, while the remaining 5 eventually sacrificed after another 8 week of drug withdrawal. The level of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone were determined from the serum. The weight of the reproductive organs and sperm indices were assayed, while the testicular tissue were examined for signs of histological alteration. Results:The results showed significant decrease in the levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone and sperm physiological indices. Morphological alteration was noticed in the testes of all the treated rats. However, there was restoration of these parameters sequelae to 8 weeks cessation of treatment. Conclusion:Single and combined administration of VIG and CBZ resulted into pituitary-gonadal axis hormonal deregulation and alterations in the sperm profile which were however reversible upon cessation of treatment.

Highlights Chronic carbamazepine treatment decreased the body weight and relative liver weight of male Wistar rats. Carbamazepine induced the activities of liver enzymes in male Wistar rats. Carbamazepine increased the product of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) of the liver. Carbamazepine induced various hepatic histomorphological alterations in male Wistar rats. Most of these derangements were attenuated by grape seed methanolic extract.