Substantia nigra single unit activity during penicillin-induced focal cortical epileptiform discharge in the rat.
In urethane anesthetized rats single unit activity was recorded in the substantia nigra (SN) during focal cortical epileptiform discharges induced by topical application of penicillin to the cortical surface. Eighty percent of SN units responded during the cortical interictal spike discharge, 50% with an initial burst or increase in firing rate and 30% with an initial inhibition or decrease in firing rate. In view of the SN's widespread projections to thalamus and brainstem, these results suggest the SN may be a prominent element of the pathway involved in the spread and generalization of cortical epileptiform activity.
D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*
D010406:Penicillins