BACLOFEN PREVENTS RAPID AMYGDALA KINDLING IN ADULT-RATS

This study investigates the effect of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAB A,) agonist, baclofen, on amygdala kindling in adult rats. Baclofen ha s been reported to be anticonvulsant in a variety of seizure models an d prevents kindling in immature rats. These experiments describe the e ffects of baclofen (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) on the afterdischarge thr eshold and kindling rate. Baclofen, 10 mg/kg, significantly increased the afterdischarge threshold in the amygdala. Baclofen at 5 and 10 mg/ kg, retarded the rate of kindling as measured by the number of stimuli required to advance to subsequent seizure stages. These results sugge st that baclofen may decrease the local excitability of the amygdala a nd retard the rate of seizure spread (or generalization) throughout th e brain. Baclofen, acting at GABA, receptors exerts an anticonvulsant effect on amygdala kindling in these experiments.