A Circadian Rhythm of Chemoconvulsive Response Thresholds in Mice

Abstract

A day-night rhythm of sensitivity to a convulsant drug, hexafluorodiethyl ether, was demonstrated in several strains of mice. Response thresholds for myoclonic jerk and for tonic convulsion were high early in the daily light period and low early in the dark period. This phenomenon is suggested to be an experimental model of day-night rhythms in susceptibility to epileptic seizures.