Alterations in cation levels and Na-K ATPase activity in rat cerebral cortex during the development of cobalt-induced epilepsy.

Abstract

Abstract— This study was carried out to ascertain what biochemical changes might be present in cobalt‐induced epilepsy in the rat. Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, Na‐K ATPase activity, water content, protein content and the ability of the tissue to utilize oxygen were measured in (1) the area of the cerebral cortex in which the cobalt was implanted; (2) in an area adjacent to but not including the area of the lesion; and (3) in the homotopic area of the contralateral cerebral cortex. The greatest changes were observed in the area of the lesion itself, with marked increases in calcium, magnesium and sodium contents and decreases in potassium content, Na‐K ATPase activity, protein content and the ability of the tissue to utilize oxygen. The only significant findings in the area adjacent to the lesion and in the contralateral cortex were a modest elevation of sodium and a modest decrease in potassium at different time periods after implantation of the cobalt. We feel that the changes observed at the site of cobalt implantation may reflect tissue destruction which is unrelated to the epileptic process.