Verapamil exerts biphasic modulation on phenobarbital transport across the blood-brain barrier: evidence from an in vivo and in vitro study

The aim of the study was to report a concentration-dependently biphasic effect of verapamil (VER) on the transport of phenobarbital (PB) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vitro and in vivo. The uptake of PB by rat brain microvessel endothelial cells (rBMECs) and transport of PB across the rBMEC monolayer from apical to basolateral and basolateral to apical were evaluated in the presence of VER. The effect of VER on PB pharmacological activity on the central nervous system (CNS) and brain distribution of PB in mice were further investigated. The results showed that VER regulated the uptake of PB by rBMECs in a concentration-dependently biphasic manner. The uptake of PB by rBMECs was decreased by low concentrations of VER (1-25 mu M), but increased by high concentrations of VER (50-300 mu M). The biphasic regulation was also observed in transport experiment. In vivo studies showed that VER altered the pharmacological effect of PB on CNS and brain concentration of PB in a biphasic manner. In contrast to low doses of VER (0.125-0.5 mg/kg) that shortened the duration time of PB-induced loss of the righting reflex, high doses of VER (2-4 mg/kg) prolonged the duration time. Further study demonstrated that brain concentration of PB was decreased by 0.125 mg/kg VER, but increased by 2 mg/kg VER. The concentration-dependently biphasic regulation was also confirmed in the uptake of rhodamine 123 by rBMECs. Our results suggested that VER may regulate the transport of PB across BBB in a concentration-dependently biphasic manner and the biphasic regulation may be involved in P-gp function.