Magnesium sulfate and sodium valproate block methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion,an animal model of mania

Magnesium sulfate (mgso4) is used to treat and prevent eclamptic seizures,and several anticonvulsant drugs (e.g.,sodium valproate) are clinically effective antimanic drugs. psychostimulant-induced hyperlocomotion has been proposed as an animal model for the study of antimanic drugs. the present study evaluated the effects of mgso4 and sodium valproate (as a positive control) on hyperlocomotion induced by methylphenidate in mice. acute mgso4 (300-400 mg/kg),but not sodium valproate (100-300 mg/kg),prevented the increase in locomotor activity induced by methylphenidate (5.0 mg/kg). in contrast,repeated treatment (14 days) with valproate (300 mg/kg),but not mgso4 (400 mg/kg),blocked methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion. thus,acute mgso4 exerted antimanic-like effects in this animal model. copyright © 2011 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.