TY - JOUR
T1 - Interruption of the connections of the mammillary bodies protects against generalized pentylenetetrazol seizures in guinea pigs
AU - Mirski, M. A.
AU - Ferrendelli, J. A.
PY - 1987
Y1 - 1987
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1523/jneurosci.07-03-00662.1987
DO - 10.1523/jneurosci.07-03-00662.1987
M3 - Article
C2 - 3104550
AN - SCOPUS:0023138497
SN - 0270-6474
VL - 7
SP - 662
EP - 670
JO - Journal of Neuroscience
JF - Journal of Neuroscience
IS - 3
ER -