Somatostatin release in rat neocortex during gamma-hydroxybutyrate-provoked seizures: microdialysis combined with EEG recording.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) was intracortically applied in two doses (first 10 and then 20 mg/ml) to awake Wistar rats using microdialysis. Simultaneously, EEG and the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) were measured from the frontal cortex. Intracerebrally administered GHB induced cortical epileptogenic spikes, but not high voltage spindles (HVS) as reported after systemic administration, and seizures with myoclonic jerks and contraversive head movements. Compared to the basal level, GHB (10 mg/ml) initially increased the release of SLI (p < 0.05). However, when the frequency of spikes and seizures rose rapidly (p < 0.001), SLI release decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Minimum release of SLI occurred when seizures were most frequent (during perfusion with 20 mg/ml GHB), while after removal of the drug it rose above the basal level (p < 0.05). According to these results, intracortically applied GHB increases the release of SLI in the surrounding tissue. However, further exposure of GHB leads to a manifestation of epileptic spikes and seizures, during which the release of SLI is significantly attenuated. This suggests that release of somatostatin is affected during epileptic phenomena induced also by intracortical GHB application.