CARDIAC-HYPERTROPHY SECONDARY TO STATUS EPILEPTICUS IN THE RAT

Status epilepticus was induced in rats by sequential injections of lit hium and pilocarpine. Seizure activity was aborted by a combination of MK-801 and diazepam, with status duration ranging from 3 to 180 min. When the hearts were examined 8-12 days later, rats that had experienc ed an episode of status epilepticus had significantly heavier hearts t han did controls. The nature of the cardiac tissue changes was not exa mined, and deserves further study.