Decreased sensitivity of neurons in the basolateral amygdala to dopamine and noradrenaline iontophoresis after a kindling stimulus.

The depressant effects of iontophoretically applied dopamine and noradrenaline on glutamate-induced neuronal firing in the amygdaloid complex of cats were significantly reduced 1 and 2 h after induction of a local epileptiform afterdischarge of the kind used in kindling. Neuronal excitation by glutamate and depression by GABA were not significantly changed. This suggests that kindling is associated with a reduction of the inhibitory effects of endogenous catecholamines.