Locomotor and convulsive responses to picrotoxin in amygdala-kindled rats

Amygdala-kindled rats and handled controls were tested for differences in locomotion and convulsive activity produced by picrotoxin, a specific synaptic antagonist of the putative neurotransmitter GABA. Compared with controls, the gross activity of kindled rats decreased more rapidly with dose (0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and kindled rats were more likely to convulse with the higher doses (1.0 to 2.0 mg/kg). These results suggest a functional deficit in the GABA system of kindled rats as measured by locomotion and convulsive activity.