Modification of the antiepileptic actions of phenobarbital and phenytoin by the taurine transport inhibitor, guanidinoethane sulfonate

We investigated whether chronic administration of guanidinoethane sulfonate, an inhibitor of taurine uptake, could modify the antiepileptic actions of phenobarbital and phenytoin on maximal electroshock seizures in mice. Treatment with 1% guanidinoethane sulfonate decreased the taurine concentration in the brain to 76% of the control value. Under these conditions, neither the severity of tonic convulsions of maximal electroshock seizures nor the threshold for tonic extension caused by electroshock was altered. However, treatment with guanidinoethane sulfonate lessened the antiepileptic actions of phenobarbital and phenytoin on electroshock seizures. The brain concentrations of phenobarbital and phenytoin were unaltered by administration of guanidinoethane sulfonate. The brain concentrations of guanidinoethane sulfonate and total guanidino compounds were unchanged by the injection of either phenobarbital or phenytoin. It is suggested that the observed loss of anticonvulsive potency of phenobarbital and phenytoin may have been related to the decrease in taurine concentration produced by guanidinoethane sulfonate.