The Effect of Aminophylline on Quinidine Passage into the Central Nervous System of Rats

Abstract:

Background and Objective: There is significant interest in mutual influence of substances during their passage into the central nervous system (CNS). Quinidine is a drug which can achieve significant concentration in CNS and cause side effects and aminophylline is a drug with possibility to change distribution of drugs in CNS. Thus the aim of this work was to study the effect of aminophylline on the transition of quinidine through the bloodbrain barrier into the central nervous system. Material and Methods: The experiments were carried out on Wistar rats, which received quinidine in the form of the retrograde intra-arterial bolus injection into the right axillary vein. The control group of animals received subcutaneously physiological solution 30 min before the intra-arterial quinidine application, whereas the test group animals also received subcutaneously aminophylline 30 min before quinidine application. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation in specified time intervals in order to determine quinidine concentration in different parts of CNS. Results: There were no significant changes in serum quinidine levels by comparing the results of experimental group with those of the control group of animals. In all parts of CNS aminophylline pre-treatment caused significant decrease in CNS quinidine concentration. Conclusion: The results suggest that co-administration of aminophylline and quinidine, decreases quinidine concentrations in the CNS of rats.

Key words: Aminophylline, Quinidine, Blood-brain barrier, Drug interactions.