Immunoreactive leucine-enkephalin content in brains of epileptic E1 mice.

The immunoreactive leucine-enkephalin (IR Leu-E) content in the brains of epileptic E1 mice was determined. E1 mice are mutants from the dd strain of mice and are susceptible to convulsions. Seizures were elicited in E1 mice by repeated postural stimulations. As controls, ddY strain (nonconvulsive) mice and nonstimulated E1 mice (which had not developed convulsions) were used. IR Leu-E content was measured by radioimmuno-assay. Before the convulsion, the IR Leu-E content in the striatum of E1 mice was 60% of the content in the controls. In the hypothalamus, IR Leu-E levels were increased by 85% 45 min after a convulsion. IR Leu-E was also increased in the striatum (176% of preconvulsive state), cortex (121%), medulla oblongata + pons (132%), hypothalamus (180%), and midbrain (159%) 48 h after a convulsion.