KUMJ | VOL. 12 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 48 | OCT-DEC, 2014
Has Oxidative Stress any Role on Mechanisms of Aminophylline – Induced Seizures? An Animal Study
R oy UK, Pal M, Datta S, Harlalka S
Abstract: Background
Aminophylline can trigger seizures in patients without known underlying epilepsy
or added risk factor for seizure exacerbation in epilepsy. Most of these seizures are
difficult to control and are underappreciated compared to other drug toxicities.
Despite a long clinical history of aminophylline-induced seizures, relatively
little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to
methylxanthine-induced seizure generation.
Objective
The present study evaluated the possible involvement of free radicals in aminophylline
induced seizures in rat.
Method
The rats were divided into two groups. The first group graded single doses of
aminophylline from 100 to 300 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally. On
the basis of the results Aminophylline, a dose (300 mg/kg) producing tonic-clonic
seizures and mortality in 100% animals was selected as control in the study. The
second group were subjected to single antioxidant (Vitamin E or Vitamin C) or in
combination for 45 days then single doses of aminophylline 300 mg/kg administered
intraperitoneally to rats.
Result
Aminophylline induced convulsions in rats in a dose-dependent manner, and both
incidence of seizure and mortality were maximum at 300 mg/kg and there was
significant increase of free radical generation. But though pre-treatment with
antioxidants showed differential attenuating effects on aminophylline induced
free radical generation as we all known but they were very much ineffective in
antagonizing aminophylline induced seizures and post-seizure mortality by any
appreciable extent.
Conclusion
Though Aminophylline induces oxidative stress the results are suggestive that at least
free radicals is not only cause of convulsiogenic effects and post-seizure mortality of
aminophylline.
Keyword : Aminophylline, antioxidant, oxidative stress, seizures
