EXTRACELLULAR LEVELS OF NEUROPEPTIDE-Y ARE MARKEDLY INCREASED IN THE DORSAL HIPPOCAMPUS OF FREELY MOVING RATS DURING KAINIC ACID-INDUCED SEIZURES

In this microdialysis study we measured the extracellular neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in the dorsal hippocampus of conscious rats. During po tassium-induced depolarisations, a 93% increase in extracellular level s of NPY was observed. NPY has been demonstrated to reduce kainic acid -induced convulsions in rats, but it is unknown whether NPY neurotrans mission is affected by seizures. During seizures induced by kainic aci d we observed a 104% increase in levels of NPY, suggesting that convul sions are associated with a dramatically increased NPYergic neurotrans mission. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.