Influence of repeated vitamin B administration on the frequency pattern analysed from rat brain electrical activity...

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 alpha 1 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.