Abstract
Repeated administrations of subconvulsive doses of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) leads to frank convulsions. The number of injections required to bring about such an effect is taken as an index of seizure vulnerability, and was studied in normal rats. This study examined the effect of pain induced by formaline injection or placement on a hot plate on seizure elicitation. The results could be accounted for by the role of arousal and/or endogenous opiates that are generated by the pain induction procedures, wherein the pain appears to provide some elevation of the threshold for seizure vulnerability.
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