Interruption of the mammillothalamic tract prevents seizures in guinea pigs.

Interruption of the connection between the mammillary bodies and the anterior nucleus of the thalamus in guinea pigs, by discrete bilateral electrolytic lesions of the mammillothalamic tract, resulted in essentially complete protection from the behavioral and electroencephalographic convulsant action and lethal effect of pentylenetetrazol. This result demonstrates that the mammillary bodies and their rostral efferent connections are important for the propagation and perhaps initiation of generalized seizures.