Vigabatrin reduces epileptiform activity in brain slices from pharmacoresistant epilepsy patients

Human neocortical temporal lobe tissue resected for treatment of pharmacore sistant epilepsy was investigated. In slices prepared from this tissue, epi leptiform field potentials (EFP) were induced by omission of magnesium from the artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). The effects of the gamma-aminob utyric acid transaminase inhibitor vigabatrin on EFP were tested. Vigabatri n exerted a dose-dependent reduction of the repetition rate of EFP: after 3 h of administration of vigabatrin in concentrations of 100 and 200 mu mol/ l, the repetition rate of EFP was reduced to 35% and 18% of the initial val ues, respectively. This effect was not reversible. In control experiments w ith neocortical slices from rats, vigabatrin reduced EFP in a comparable ra nge. The results demonstrate a strong antiepileptic effect of vigabatrin on EFP in tissues from pharmacoresistant epilepsy patients. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.