Effects of Gabapentin and Topiramate in primay rat astrocyte cultures

We studied in vitro the effects of anticonvulsant drugs Gabapentin and Topiramate on the production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (NO), the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS), and cell viability, in primary cultures of rat cortical astrocytes which are intimately involved in the normal functioning of neurons. We investigated the effects of these drug at concentrations within the therapeutic range (1, 10 and 50 μg/ml). We observed that, in cultured astrocytes, Gabapentin induced a weak increase in the biosynthesis of NO, a mild decrease in GS activity and cell viability, and minor induction of a stress condition. Topiramate was observed to induce even greater stressor effects on these cells.