Neurotransmission in the pedunculopontine nucleus and pilocarpine-induced motor limbic seizures in rats.

Systemic injection of the cholinergic agonist, pilocarpine (380 mg/kg, i.p.) initiates a sequence of events leading to motor limbic seizure activity. Focal injection of the excitatory amino acid antagonist, 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (50 pmol-1 nmol) into the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), prior to pilocarpine injection, results in a powerful anticonvulsant action. The GABA agonist, muscimol (25-50 pmol) also afforded protection against pilocarpine-evoked convulsions when injected focally into the PPN. The results suggest that an overall inhibition of PPN output neurons is required for anticonvulsant action.