Endocrine factors and glucose metabolism during prolonged seizures in baboons.

Changes in plasma glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, insulin, glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin have been studied in baboons during the course of generalized epileptic seizures induced by intravenous bicuculline. Plasma glucose rose to a peak at 25 min but fell to hypoglycemic levels after 60 min of seizure activity. This hypoglycemia was accompanied by a marked elevation in plasma insulin. Plasma glucagon rose to a peak at 14 min, then returned to normal. Plasma growth hormone levels were elevated after 60 min of seizure activity. Plasma prolactin and cortisol levels also rose during the seizure. These changes result from sequential interaction of (1) autonomic activation at seizure onset, (2) spread of neuronal activity to the hypothalamus leading to the liberation of releasing factors, and (3) indirect physiologic consequences of seizure activity.