Recurrent seizures induced by cortical iron injection: a model of posttraumatic epilepsy.

A single injection of 5 or 10 microliters of ferrous or ferric chloride into rat or cat sensorimotor cortex resulted in chronic recurrent focal paroxysmal electroencephalographic discharges as well as behavioral convulsions and electrical seizures. Iron-filled macrophages, ferruginated neurons, and astroglical cells surrounded the focus of seizure discharge. Recurrent focal epileptiform discharges caused by cortical injection of iron salts suggests that the development of human posttraumatic epilepsy may depend, in part, on neurochemical alterations induced by the principal metallic ions found in whole blood.