Oxacarbazepine (OXC) is a new antiepileptic drug structurally
related to carbamazepine. It has shown a powerful protective effect
against generalized tonic-clonic seizures with better tolerability and
fewer side effects. This study was designed to detect changes in the
level of neurotransmitters in different brain regions of rats with
chemically-induced epilepsy pretreated by oxcarbazepine for 4 weeks
compared to control epileptic and normal rats. Biochemical and the
histopathological changes which could occur after prolonged use of
oxcarbazepine in liver and kidney of these rats were also explored.
Oxcarbazepine treatment abolished all phases of major generalized
tonic-clonic chemically-induced seizures. Oxcarbazepine significantly
reduced the concentration of dopamine and noradrenaline and
increased GABA concentration in all tested brain regions of treated
-rats. Oxcarbazepine treatment insignificantly alter biochemical
parameters related to liver functions in the form of slight elevation of
alkaline phosphatase and transaminase enzymes activities. However,
Oxcarbazepine induced a significant hyponatremia and insignificant
changes in serum creatinine and blood urea. Similarly,
histopathological studies of oxcarbazepine treated rats revealed some
minor changes such as dilatation and congestion of the central vein
and blood sinusoids of the liver and glomerular hypercellularity with
hyaline deposites and dilated cortical tubules in the kidney. In
conclusion, oxcarbazepine could be used effectively and safely as a
monotherapy in epilepsy. However, liver and kidney functions and
serum electrolytes sould be monitored on prolonged use. |
