title: Characterization of the epileptiform activity induced by magnesium-free solution in rat amygdala slices: an intracellular study.
abstract: The effect of Mg2+-free medium on neuronal activity in the basolateral nucleus of the rat amygdala slice was studied using intracellular recording techniques. Removal of Mg2+ from perfusate resulted in the development of three types of spontaneous activity, EPSP-like, ictal-like, and interictal-like events. The ictal-like events consisted of a long-duration depolarizing potential with several recurrent interictal bursts riding on it. The tonic and clonic firing phases seen in ictal-like events closely resembled the tonic and clonic phases of seizures which may provide a new model for studying the mechanisms underlying the generation of ictal seizures. The duration of interictal-like events induced in Mg2+-free solution is 10- to 30-fold longer than that produced by a convulsant. Two factors, a small or absent epileptiform afterhyperpolarization and a high density of NMDA receptor binding sites within the basolateral amygdala nucleus, may account for this difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gean
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shinnick-Gallagher
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium