THE EFFECT OF AN ECTOSYLVIAN EPILEPTOGENIC FOCUS INDUCED BY TOPICAL APPLICATION OF MESCALINE ON NITROGENOUS COMPOUNDS IN THE NEOCORTEX OF CAT

Topical application of mescaline to the neocortex induced an epileptiform spiking focus and altered nitrogenous compounds across the entire cerebral cortex. Within two minutes, before spiking began, ammonia levels rose significantly in all neocortical areas, especially at the focus and the homolateral marginal gyrus; free amide nitrogen decreased and non-protein nitrogen increased throughout the cortex. At thirty minutes, during focus development, ammonia remained elevated with a slight decline, free amide nitrogen was reduced in all neocortical areas, and protein nitrogen decreased in both marginal gyri while lipid nitrogen fell in the focus and both marginal gyri.

Study at a glance

Abstract

SUMMARY An cctosylvian spiking focus, induced by topical application of mescaline, brought about changes in nitrogenous compounds not only in the focus but throughout the cerebral cortex. Prior to the onset of the spiking focus, 2 min after mescaline application, ammonia levels increased significantly in all neocortical areas, especially at the focus and homolateral marginal gyrus; free amide nitrogen decreased and non‐protein nitrogen increased throughout the cortex. During the development of the focus–at 30 min–the ammonia level still remained high, with a tendency to decrease, and free amide nitrogen was decreased in all neocortical areas. A decrease in‘protein nitrogen’in marginal gyri, on either side and in lipid nitrogen in the epileptical focus as well as in both marginal gyri was also noted.