Interruption of the connections of the mammillary bodies protects against generalized pentylenetetrazol seizures in guinea pigs

M. A. Mirski, J. A. Ferrendelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrolytic lesions in the anterior and mid-diencephalon and ventral midbrain in guinea pigs were produced to examine the effects of interruption of the fornix (FX), mammillothalamic tracts (MT), and mammillary peduncles (MP), respectively, on the expression of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) seizures. As a group, all mid-diencephalic lesioned animals had some degree of protection from the electroencephalographic and behavioral convulsant and lethal effects of the drug. Through a composite volume analysis of protected versus unprotected animals, as well as a retrospective comparison between MT and non-MT lesioned animals, it was demonstrated that small mid-diencephalic lesions incorporating only the MTs and their immediate vicinity were capable of completely preventing the convulsant and lethal effects of PTZ. Lesions of the FX and MP were also protective against PTZ seizures but to a lesser degree than the MT lesions. These results demonstrate that the major afferent and efferent connections of the mammillary bodies are involved in expressing PTZ seizure activity and suggest that the MT may be the major pathway mediating paroxysmal activity from brain stem to the thalamus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)662-670
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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