Similar effects of phenytoin and tetrodotoxin on cyclic nucleotid regulation in depolarized brain tissue

JA Ferrendelli and DA Kinscherf

Veratridine, ouabain, glutamate and high concentrations of K+, agents which cause depolarization of excitable cells, markedly elevate levels of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3':5'- monophosphate (cyclic GMP) in brain tissue, in vitro. Phenytoin inhibits veratridine (5 micron)- and ouabain (100 micron)-induced accumulations of both cyclic nucleotides in slices of mouse cerebral cortex. As little as 10 to 30 micron phenytoin produces a statistically significant depression, and 100 to 400 micron inhibits more than 90%. In contrast, at concentrations up to 400 micron, the drug has little or no effect on elevations of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP caused by glutamate (10 mM) or K+ (64 mM). The inhibitory action of phenytoin on ouabain- induced elevations of cyclic nucleotides appears to be noncompetitive; inhibition of the veratridine effects probably is also noncompetitive. Tetrodotoxin also inhibits ouabain- and veratridine-induced elevations of cyclic nucleotides in brain slices, but it is 3 orders of magnitude more potent than phenytoin. Like phenytoin, tetrodotoxin does not inhibit the effects of glutamate or K+ on cyclic nucleotide regulation. These data suggest that, similar to tetrodotoxin phenytoin blocks sodium channels in excitable membranes. Possibly this mechanism is responsible for the antiepileptic action of phenytoin.

Volume 207, Issue 3, pp. 787-793, 12/01/1978
Copyright © 1978 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics