The effects of a spirolactone derivative on EEG and cortical single unit activity in the cat.

With systemic (60-150 mg/kg) and topical application, Aldactone exhibited strong convulsant action on the cat cerebral cortex. The most common abnormal interictal features of the surface ECoG pattern were sequences of fast waves and slow negative waves associated with positive sharp waves, negative field potentials and burst-like neuronal activation in the extracellular microelectrode record. Another abnormal pattern was a period of ECoG and neuronal inactivity subsequent to the negative transients. These series of sharp and slow waves and of inactivity were interrupted by tonic and clonic ECoG seizures characterized by regular surface positive spikes. Development of seizures, but not of interictal phenomena, could be prevented by intravenous application of Diazepam (1 mg), Nembutal (30 mg/kg) and--less effectively--by Phenhydane (20 mg/kg).