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The effect of amygdala kindling on spontaneous and cocaine-induced motor activity and lidocaine seizures

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Abstract

Interactions of amygdala kindling and drug effects were explored in two experiments. Pretreatment with cocaine (40 mg/kg, IP) for 10 days did not significantly affect the rate of amygdala kindling compared to saline or non-kindled controls. In contrast, daily amygdala kindling with 200 μA for 0.5 s for 20 days substantially altered subsequent behavioral responses in a long-lasting fashion. Animals showed decreased spontaneous vertical rearing activity, as well as decreased cocaine-induced vertical activity. In contrast, they were more reactive to the direct dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine. Eighteen days following completion of amygdala kindling, kindled animals were more sensitive to lidocaine-induced convulsions; 88% of kindled animals, but only 24% of the implanted sham-stimulated controls, had seizures. These data suggest that amygdala kindling may produce longlasting changes in selected spontaneous and drug-induced behaviors, as well as convulsive thresholds. Possible physiological and neurological changes underlying this altered responsivity are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section on Psychobiology, Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, 20205, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Robert M. Post, Kathleen M. Squillace & Willard Sass

  2. Section on Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, 20205, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Agu Pert

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  1. Robert M. Post
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  2. Kathleen M. Squillace
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  3. Agu Pert
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  4. Willard Sass
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Post, R.M., Squillace, K.M., Pert, A. et al. The effect of amygdala kindling on spontaneous and cocaine-induced motor activity and lidocaine seizures. Psychopharmacology 72, 189–196 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431655

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