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Effects of a focal penicillin lesion on responses of rabbit cortical neurones to putative neurotransmitters
Author(s) -
CLARKE G.,
HILL R. G.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1972.tb07281.x
Subject(s) - neuroscience , penicillin , acetylcholine , neurotransmitter , glutamate receptor , cortical spreading depression , cerebral cortex , depolarization , cortex (anatomy) , lesion , chemistry , iontophoresis , biology , pharmacology , medicine , biophysics , central nervous system , biochemistry , anesthesia , receptor , antibiotics , pathology , migraine
Summary1 Epileptogenic foci were generated in rabbit cerebral cortex by the topical application of penicillin. 2 Responses to iontophoretically applied putative neurotransmitters were compared in cortical neurones firing spontaneously with those driven by applied excitant substances, both before and after establishing the penicillin focus. 3 In the presence of the spiking focus, currents of γ‐aminobutyric acid, which normally produced 100% depression of neuronal firing, were ineffective. 4 In the same situation, currents of (±)‐homocysteic acid, glutamate and acetylcholine produced predominantly depolarization block responses, and hence depression of firing. 5 It is concluded that an epileptogenic focus can alter the responses of rabbit cortical neurones to microiontophoretically applied neurotransmitter substances. Possible mechanisms for the spread of seizure activity are discussed.