CARBAMAZEPINE EXERTS ANTIINFLAMMATORY EFFECTS IN THE RAT

In a first set of experiments, we evaluated the effects of different d oses (5.0, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg p.o.) of carbamazepine on nociceptive t hresholds to thermal and mechanical stimuli, and on paw inflammatory h yperalgesia induced by the injection of brewer's yeast. Moreover, we s tudied the effect of carbamazepine on paw inflammatory edema by plethy smometry. Carbamazepine did not modify nociceptive latencies, but dose dependently reduced the hyperalgesia and the edema induced by the bre wer's yeast injection in the rat hindpaw. In a second set of experimen ts, we studied the effects induced by the same doses of the drug on su bcutaneous carrageenin-induced inflammation. Carbamazepine dose depend ently reduced the inflammatory exudate, the prostaglandin E(2)-like ac tivity in the exudate, and the substance P concentrations in the exuda te. Our results demonstrate that carbamazepine is able to inhibit the development of different types of inflammation in the rat.