Kindling antagonism: interactions of the amygdala with the piriform, perirhinal, and insular cortices.

We employed the kindling antagonism paradigm to characterize the role of the amygdala (AM), piriform cortex (PIR), perirhinal cortex (PRH), and insular cortex (INS) in the propagation and expression of generalized seizures. Alternating kindling stimulation was delivered to the AM and either the PIR, PRH, or INS. We found that kindling from the AM was retarded by stimulation only of the deep layers of both the INS and anterior PRH. Kindling antagonism was specific to the anterior cortical regions, since neither the posterior PRH or PIR were capable of antagonizing AM kindling. The results strongly implicate the deep layers of anterior limbic cortex in establishment of antagonism of AM kindling.