Pharmacological and neurochemical aspects of kindling.
Rats implanted with amygdaloid stimulating and cortical recording electrodes were kindled by daily low-intensity electrical stimulation. In one experiment amino acid concentrations were measured in amygdala, cortex and hippocampus at behavioural stages 1, 2 and 4 (Racine). Control groups consisted of unstimulated rats. Only alanine showed a significant enhancement of concentration in the kindled rats (stage 4 of Racine). In a second experiment, a group of rats was treated daily with 10mg/kg p.o. of diazepam. Diazepam significantly inhibited kindling and no changes in amino acid concentrations were observed in this group. Increased alanine levels are seen after various seizure types; since pentetrazole, isoniazid and beta-vinyllactic acid seizures were associated with alanine level increases only after and never before seizure occurrence, it is suggested that the alanine increases are a consequence rather than a cause of convulsions. In 3H-flunitrazepam binding studies, no change in affinity or receptor number could be demonstrated during kindling.
D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
D000596:Amino Acids; D010919:Placebos; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D014316:Tritium; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D000409:Alanine; D003975:Diazepam