Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology
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Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. · Nov 2009
Effects of sodium valproate on synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability in rat hippocampus.
1. Valproate (VPA) has long been used in the treatment of both generalized and partial seizures. However, its cellular mechanisms of action remain unclear. 2. ⋯ In contrast, 0.3 and 0.6 mmol/L VPA significantly increased spike frequency adaptation from 4.02 +/- 0.47 to 4.72 +/- 0.55 and from 3.47 +/- 0.41 to 4.48 +/- 0.58, respectively (n = 8; P < 0.05). 5. The results of the present study suggest that VPA presynaptically increases inhibitory synaptic activity without modifying excitatory synaptic transmission and reduces neuronal excitability. Any or all of these effects may contribute to its anticonvulsant action.