Depletion of brain noradrenaline, but not dopamine, by intracerebral 6-hydroxydopamine potentiates convulsions induced by electroshock.

Intracerebral injection in rats of 4 microgram of the catecholamine neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine was used to deplete forebrain noradrenaline to less than 10% of control values and separately to deplete brain dopamine to less than 15% of control. The susceptibility of these animals to electroconvulsive shock-induced convulsions was examined, and a significant potentiation of the response was seen in the rats depleted of noradrenaline but not in those depleted of dopamine. The duration of the convulsion was significantly increased as a result of loss of forebrain noradrenaline.