Parenteral magnesium sulfate exerts no central anticonvulsant action

It was said that parenteral magnesium (MS) had a central anticonvulsant action responsible for controlling seizures in eclampsia of pregnancy. The present study was carried out to examine this statement. In conscious rabbits, MS 214 mg.kg-1 iv quickly relieved them from convulsion induced by sc pentylenetetrazol, yet spikes of high frequency in electrocorticogram burst inceasingly. Judging from electrocorticogram changes, MS 220 mg.kg-1 iv did not raise the electroshock seizure threshold. In mice, MS 430 mg.kg-1 did not significantly increase the LD50 of ip pentylenetetrazol. However, in anesthetized rats, MS 250 mg.kg-1 ip lowered the hypertensive response to angiotensin amide and norepinephrine. These results indicated that parenterally administered MS exerted no demonstrable central anticonvulsant action, and its benefits gained in the treatment of eclampsia of pregnancy might derive from its peripheral action, such as reduction of vascular response to pressor substances.