Subcortical Multiple Unit Activity and Plasma Levels of Prolactin and LH During Strychninization of the Cerebral Cortex in the Female Rat 1

Summary

Under urethane anesthesia the application of 2% strychnine sulfate to the cerebral cortex of female rats induced seizure activity. Multiple unit electrical activity recorded simultaneously from the medial preoptic area and basal hypothalamus showed significant changes only when the amplitude of the tonic EEG activity rose or fell. This suggests that tonic cortical activity is the crucial factor relating EEG events with preoptic or hypothalamic MUA during cortical strychninization. Plasma prolactin and LH levels in PMS-hCG and OVX-E₂-P treated animals were not modified by the application of strychnine to the cerebral cortex. The results suggest that spreading depression is a more potent influence on pituitary function by virtue of its demonstrated effects on subcortical activity in preoptic and hypothalamic areas.