title: Hemispheric asymmetry of pentamethylenetetrazol-induced wave-spike discharges and motor imbalance in rats.
abstract: An intrinsic asymmetry of nigrostriatal dopamine system postulated to be responsible for motor imbalance in normal rats (Glick et al., 1976) is believed to create asymmetry of arousal-sensitive wave-spike discharges. In the present study, bilaterally recorded pentamethylenetetrazol (PMZ)-activated wave-spike discharges were correlated with circling behavior in intact rats. Thirteen naive rats (10 male, 3 female) were implanted with electrodes symmetrically placed over the visual cortices, and their rotation directionality was assessed in the rotometer subsequent to administration of d-methamphetamine sul-ate, 1.5 mg/kg, i.p. In 9 rats a PMZ injection, 20 mg/kg, i.p., revealed asymmetric wave-spike bursts. All of them reliably rotated in the dirction opposite to the hemisphere with lower amplitude wave-spike discharges. It is believed that the nigrostriatal dopamine system plays a major role in modulating the asymmetry of wave-spike seizures. The findings are discussed as they relate to asymmetric generalized wave-spike dischanges found in certain petit mal patients.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001393:Azoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012399:Rotation; D012640:Seizures; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001393:Azoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D004298:Dopamine