Influence of chlordiazepoxide on paroxysmal EEG activity induced by hippocampal and-or thalamic cobalt foci.

Abstract

The influence of chlordiazepoxide (Librium) on the paroxysmal 7–9/sec spike and wave and polyspike EEG discharges induced by chronic cobaltgelatine implantation into the dorsal hippocampus and/or nonspecific thalamus has been studied in rats with electrodes in the frontal cortices, dorsal hippocampi and the mesencephalic reticular formation. Both low (1.5–9 mg/kg i.p.) and high (9–15 mg/kg i.p.) doses of chlordiazepoxide reduced the incidence of paroxysmal EEG manifestations and shortened their duration (when present). Both effects were more pronounced after higher doses. The frequency of spike-wave complexes or spikes within the paroxysmal EEG discharges did not change systematically after chlordiazepoxide. The influence of the drug on the paroxysmal discharges is independent of whether the EEG after chlordiazepoxide is desynchronized or synchronized. In the latter case desynchronization of the EEG by reticular stimulation does not facilitate the occurrence of paroxysmal EEG dischartes.