Study of anticonvulsant activity of quinidine in albino rats using pentylenetetrazole model

Background: Convulsion is a condition where in the muscles of the body contract and relaxes rapidly and repeatedly resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body .It is often a symptom of the epileptic seizure. Gap junctions play an important role in the generation and spread of the epileptic seizures .Quinidine being one of the gap junction blockermay have the potential role in the treatment by inhibiting the development and spread of the seizures. Objectives: To study the anticonvulsant activity of quinidine in albino rats in PTZ model and its comparison with the sodium valproate. Material and Methods: Randomized, prospective, open labeled animal study. 36 rats were randomly divided in to six groups of six each. Individual groups were given normal saline, valproate 54mg/kg, qiunidine 28mg/kg, 35mg/kg, 42 mg/kg. One group did not receive any drug. Seizure was induced by PTZ of 90mg/kg. Results: Quinidine at a lowest dose of 28mg/kg did not have any statistically significant anticonvulsant activity. The other two doses 35mg.kg and 42mg/kg provided the seizure protection by 33.33% and 50% respectively. They also significantly prolonged the latency before onset and alsoreduced the mean duration of seizure. Conclusion: Quinidine at a dose of 35mg/kg and 42mg/kg has a significant anticonvulsant activity when compared to low dose of 28mg/kg.