title: Facilitation of focal cobalt-induced epilepsy after lesions of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus system.
abstract: In this study we analyzed the electrophysiological and clinical effects of selective removal of the forebrain noradrenergic projection from the locus coeruleus, induced by bilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine into the dorsal tegmental bundle on focal cobalt-induced epilepsy. Noradrenaline depletion caused a marked potentiation of the epilepsy by increasing the duration and intensity of both the clinical and electrophysiological epileptic parameters: epileptic discharges and myoclonic jerks started earlier; spiking and clinical activity were facilitated; duration of the epileptic syndrome was prolonged. On the basis of the present and previous results it is proposed that the ascending noradrenergic system plays a modulatory role on the spread of paroxysmal activities and on the severity of cobalt-induced epilepsy.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D003035:Cobalt; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D003035:Cobalt; D016627:Oxidopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine