Effects of anticonvulsant drugs on brain cultures from chick embryos: a comparison with cultures from embryos treated in ovo.

The effects of anticonvulsant drugs phenytoin, phenobarbitone, and sodium valproate on neurons and glia from embryonic chicken brain have been tested. These effects have been compared with those produced in neuronal and glial cultures established from embryos that were injected with the drugs in ovo. Choline acetyl transferase activity and accumulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid were measured in neuronal cultures, and carbonic anhydrase and 2,'3'-cyclic nucleotide 3' phosphohydrolase activities were measured in glial cultures. Similarities have been observed in the morphological and biochemical changes brought about by the in vitro and in vivo treatment with the drugs. The use of in vitro cell culture systems for screening drugs for potential behavioural teratogenic effects is discussed.