Effect of Epinephrine, Glucose and Certain Steroids on Fatal Convulsive Seizures in Mice.

Abstract

The animals used were mice of the dilute brown, DBA, strain, characterized by its high susceptibility and lethal seizure rate to sound-induced seizures at the age of 28-34 days. The best treatment in preventing lethal seizures was a combination of epinephrine with glucose. Fatal seizures were reduced to 2% of the individuals as compared to 80% in untreated controls. The percentage of the individuals not exhibiting the onset of seizures was 90-94% as compared to 3-4% of the control group. Cortisone and cortir. were the least effective. Testosterone reduced fatal seizure incidence from 80% to 7% and that of total seizures from 97% to 15% with estradiol and pregnenolone close seconds. Thus, susceptibility to sound-induced lethal seizures may be associated with blood-sugar level and with the endocrines and is probably nonspecific in its physiology.