A CHRONIC GRANULOMA IN BRAIN AMYGDALA MODIFIES THE PATTERN OF CONTRALATERAL KINDLED SEIZURES

Brain granulomas are among the most frequent causes of symptomatic epi lepsy. We studied the dynamics of seizures induced by amygdala kindlin g in cats in whom a granuloma was induced one year before by injection of silicates in the contralateral amygdala. A paradoxical result was obtained; when compared to controls, the development of kindling in an imals with granuloma had a significant delay in the appearance of the first tonic-clonic seizure (p<0.01) but a significant prolongation of the duration of the afterdischarge (p<0.01). These findings indicate t hat a granuloma located in an epileptogenic site can initially delay t he appearance of seizures started in the homotopic contralateral area; but, once the seizures are elicited, they become more intense.