Puromycin effect on memory may be due to occult seizures.

Intracerebral injections of puromycin, which have been shown to impair memory 3 hours after training, increase the susceptibility of mice to seizures after administration of normally subconvulsive doses of pentylenetetrazol. Cycloheximide, which antagonizes the puromycin-induced amnesia 3 hours after training, also antagonizes the puromycin effect on susceptibility to seizure. The anticonvulsant diphenylhydantoin antagonizes the puromycin effect on memory. The puromycin effect on memory may be due to occult seizures.