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Activation of substantia nigra neurons: role in the propagation of seizures in kindled rats.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bonhaus, DW; Walters, JR; McNamara, JO
Published in: J Neurosci
October 1986

The substantia nigra (SN) is crucial to the propagation of seizures in kindled rats and in other experimental seizure models. However, the mechanisms by which the SN acts to facilitate the propagation of seizures are unknown. To investigate these mechanisms we quantified the activity of SN neurons during seizures in kindled and naive rats in a paralyzed, ventilated state and examined the relationship between activity of neurons in the SN and the seizure-facilitating action of this structure. Our principal findings were that the majority of both SN dopamine and SN pars reticulata neurons, in kindled rats, fired in bursts temporally correlated to EEG waveforms recorded outside the SN during seizures; this response was only rarely found in SN neurons of naive rats during seizures elicited by stimulation of the amygdala; unlike kindled rats, lesions of the SN in naive rats did not suppress seizures. The finding that SN neurons fired in bursts during seizures in kindled, but not naive, rats indicates that seizure activity propagated into SN only in kindled rats. The correlation between seizure-suppressant effects of lesions and SN activation during seizures leads us to propose that one mechanism by which the SN promotes seizure propagation involves SN activation and transmission of seizure activity to targets of SN.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0270-6474

Publication Date

October 1986

Volume

6

Issue

10

Start / End Page

3024 / 3030

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substantia Nigra
  • Seizures
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Rats
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Male
  • Kindling, Neurologic
  • Animals
  • 3209 Neurosciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Bonhaus, D. W., Walters, J. R., & McNamara, J. O. (1986). Activation of substantia nigra neurons: role in the propagation of seizures in kindled rats. J Neurosci, 6(10), 3024–3030. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.06-10-03024.1986
Bonhaus, D. W., J. R. Walters, and J. O. McNamara. “Activation of substantia nigra neurons: role in the propagation of seizures in kindled rats.J Neurosci 6, no. 10 (October 1986): 3024–30. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.06-10-03024.1986.
Bonhaus DW, Walters JR, McNamara JO. Activation of substantia nigra neurons: role in the propagation of seizures in kindled rats. J Neurosci. 1986 Oct;6(10):3024–30.
Bonhaus, D. W., et al. “Activation of substantia nigra neurons: role in the propagation of seizures in kindled rats.J Neurosci, vol. 6, no. 10, Oct. 1986, pp. 3024–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.06-10-03024.1986.
Bonhaus DW, Walters JR, McNamara JO. Activation of substantia nigra neurons: role in the propagation of seizures in kindled rats. J Neurosci. 1986 Oct;6(10):3024–3030.

Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0270-6474

Publication Date

October 1986

Volume

6

Issue

10

Start / End Page

3024 / 3030

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substantia Nigra
  • Seizures
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Rats
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Male
  • Kindling, Neurologic
  • Animals
  • 3209 Neurosciences