Influence of repeated vitamin B administration on the frequency pattern analysed from rat brain electrical activity (tele-stereo-EEG)

Summary

Recording of field potentials from different brain areas of freely behaving rats and subsequent spectral analysis of the signals has proved to be a most sensitive method in pharmacology. This new model is used to measure the effect on the electrical activity of the brain of repeated daily injections of 1 ml/kg of a vitamin B mixture (Neurobion^®, 1 ml containing 33.3 mg B₁, 33.3 mg B₆, and 0.333 mg B₁₂). Subacute application of the vitamin B combination for 1 week in a group of six rats resulted in changes in the power spectra, which became more prominent from day to day. Particularly increases in the power of the alpha₁ and beta range from the thalamus dominated the vitamin-induced changes. From the comparison with earlier results obtained with centrally acting serotonergic drugs, it is concluded that the pharmacodynamic action of the vitamin B mixture predominantly influences this transmitter system. The same group of animals, once challenged with a single dose of 0.2 mg/kg morphine before the repeated vitamin treatment, responded to the same challenge after the treatment in a more sensitive manner. Particularly power changes in the beta range were more pronounced. This higher sensitivity to a morphine challenge persisted for more than 1 week after the end of the vitamin treatment which points to a plastic change in serotonergic neurotransmitter control processes. The results obtained here may be linked to the antinociceptive properties of the vitamin B mixture and practical consequences may include a reduction of morphine dose for analgesia during repeated vitamin B treatment.