Brain monoamine levels and E1 mouse convulsions.

E1 mice had higher levels of brain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) and a lower level of brain norepinephrine (NE) compared with the other strains of inbred mice. In the interictal stage of "stimulated" E1 mouse, the brain DA, NE and 5-HT levels were significantly lower compared with the non-stimulated E1 mouse. The administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan with MK486 markedly depressed the incidence of seizures in the E1 mouse. Evidence of abnormal DA, NE and 5-HT metabolism was found at the development age when the seizures became frequent. These results show that 5-HT may be closely related to the E1 mouse seizure susceptibility.