Pentylenetetrazol-induced retrograde amnesia and brain seizures in mice

These experiments examined in three strains of mice (Ha/ICR, Swiss Webster and C57BL/6J) the influence of pentylenetetrazol injections on: 1) brain seizure activity recorded from cortical electrodes, and 2) retrograde amnesia in an inhibitory avoidance task. In Ha/ICR mice, pentylenetetrazol administered after training impaired retention in doses that elicited brain seizures as well as in doses just below those which elicit brain seizures. The degree of retention impairment decreased with increasing training-treatment intervals. In Swiss Webster and C57BL/6J mice, doses of pentylenetetrazol which produced brain seizures did not affect retention. The results indicate that elicitation of brain seizures is not a sufficient condition for producing retrograde amnesia with pentylenetetrazol.Supported by Research Grant MH 12526 and Predoctoral Training Grant MH 11095-05 from the National Institute of Mental Health, United States Public Health Service.