CEREBRAL ENERGY-STATE OF NEONATAL RATS DURING SEIZURES INDUCED BY HOMOCYSTEINE

Seizures were induced in 7-day-old rats by intraperitoneal injection o f DL-homocysteine thiolactone. Phosphocreatine (PCr), ATP, glucose, gl ycogen and lactate were determined in the cerebral cortex during vario us intervals after injection, corresponding to the early, as well as l ong periods of seizure activity. The unchanged levels of ATP, a very m ild PCr decline and a pronounced accumulation of lactate (in the face of modest changes in brain glucose and glycogen) were observed. These results suggest that the immature rat brain is able to compensate ener gy expenditure associated with seizure activity by increased energy pr oduction, mainly due to increased anaerobic glycolysis. It remains to be determined whether a similar conclusion is also valid for other bra in regions, e.g. subcortical structures.