Phenytoin as a Neuroprotective Agent Against Corticosteroid-induced Functional Imaging Changes

Introduction and aims: Stress and corticosteroid exposure are associated with changes in the human and animal hippocampus. In animals, phenytoin prevents dendritic changes in the hippocampus secondary to corticosterone. We propose to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the effects of 3-days of exposure to placebo, hydrocortisone, phenytoin and hydrocortisone plus phenytoin on hippocampal activation. If phenytoin attenuates the effects of hydrocortisone, we will use this model system to explore other potential neuroprotective agents

CONCISE SUMMARY OF PROJECT: Sixteen healthy participants will, in a one-hour imaging session, receive a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and fMRI scan four separate times with a 21 day washout between each study drug exposure in a crossover design. Prior to each scan each participant will receive placebo + placebo, phenytoin + placebo, hydrocortisone + placebo, or hydrocortisone + phenytoin in a random fashion. Thus, each participant will receive each of the four possible study drug combinations in a random order with an extended drug washout between each exposure. Hippocampal activation, volume and biochemistry, as well as mood and memory will be assessed. The figure in Appendix I illustrates the study design.

All participants will complete a University of Texas (UT) Southwestern (UTSW) Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved informed consent process and give written consent to participate prior to study entry.

At the first screening visit, demographic information and a complete medical and psychiatric history will be obtained. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) (First et al 1995) will be used to rule out exclusionary psychiatric illnesses. Mood will be assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Activation (ACT) subscale of the ISS. Cognition will be assessed with the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) (declarative memory-hippocampus), Digit Span Backwards, and two computer tests - the Sternberg Memory Task (SMT, declarative memory-hippocampus) (Sternberg 1969), and Running Memory Continuous Performance Task (RMCPT, working memory-prefrontal cortex) (Baddeley 1986). Alternative versions of the tests will be used throughout the study to minimize any learning effects. For subjects who successfully pass the screening, fMRI sessions will be scheduled, and they will be asked to return 4 days prior to their first scan. If subjects feel uncomfortable answering any questions on the questionnaires during their screening visit, they can refuse to do so, and they will be removed from the study. If any psychological disorders are diagnosed at this stage (e.g., mood disorders such as depression), subjects will be removed from the study and referred either to Parkland hospital or to a private psychiatrist based on their insurance coverage for further evaluations and treatment. If at a later stage any abnormalities are uncovered through imaging, subjects will be notified immediately. Subjects will be provided with a referral to either Parkland Hospital or a different facility based on their insurance coverage. With the subject's consent, we will also notify their primary physician. Pregnancy tests will be obtained for females at baseline and prior to the start of each new medication cycle to ensure that no pregnant women are participating in the study (5 times total during the study).

One day prior to each study drug course, mood will be assessed with HRSD, YMRS, and ACT subscale of Internal State Scale, and cognition will be assessed with the Sternberg Memory Task.