The effect of ethanol and calcium channel antagonists on rabbit EEG

The influence of nifedipine, verapamil, and cinnarizine on the effect of ethanol on EEG of rabbits (frontal cortex, hippocampus, MRF) was tested. Nifedipine (1.75 mg/kg, IP) and cinnarizine (7.5 mg/kg, IP) were given 30 min before ethanol administration. Verapamil (0.2 mg/kg, IV) was given 15 min before ethanol injection in a dose of 0.8 g/kg IV. Ethanol caused the increase of the frequencies 0.5-4 cps in the recording, as well as a marked decrease of the fastest frequencies. Verapamil prevented ethanol's effect on EEG recording. Cinnarizine antagonized this action to a smaller extent and the influence of nifedipine is transitory and less pronounced.