Evidence that carbamazepine and antiepilepsirine may produce a component of their anticonvulsant effects by activating serotonergic neurons in genetically epilepsy-prone rats.

In order to investigate the mechanism of action of anticonvulsant drugs, we examined the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) and antiepilepsirine (AE) on convulsions and on brain biogenic amines in genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR). AE was an effective anticonvulsant in moderate seizure GEPR (GEPR-3, ED50 = 65.5 mg/kg) and in severe seizure GEPR (GEPR-9, ED50 = 68.

In vivo and in vitro characterization of mesothelial lipid inclusions.

The nature of intracytoplasmic lipid inclusions found in cultured rabbit and rat peritoneal mesothelial cells was examined by ultrastructural and biochemical techniques. Transmission electron microscopy also demonstrated extracellular release of these lipid bodies. Differential fixation with tannic acid revealed 2 types of inclusions, lamellated (lamellar bodies) and nonlamellated (homogeneous).