Kindling by repeated intraperitoneal or intracerebral injection of picrotoxin transfers to electrical kindling.

Picrotoxin kindling was examined in hooded rats by intraperitoneal or intracerebral injection in different groups. Repeated intraperitoneal injection resulted in the progressive kindling of convulsions in a dose-related manner. Bidirectional transfer to electrical kindling of the amygdala was also observed. Intraamygdala injection of small doses through a chemitrode resulted in progressive kindling and subsequent transfer to electrical kindling. Intraamygdala injection of large doses generally resulted in status epilepticus and the subsequent inability to evoke afterdischarge during transfer testing due to considerable tissue damage surrounding the chemitrode tip. Picrotoxin kindling is similar to kindling by a variety of convulsant agents. However, direct injection into the amygdala easily evokes status epilepticus and brain damage.