Neurochemical and morphological changes during the development of cobalt-induced epilepsy in the rat

Following the implantation of cobalt-gelatine pellets into the frontal cortex, epileptiform spikes in both primary and secondary foci developed and reached a peak between 7-12 days post implantation. Histological examination showed a necrotic lesion with terminal and fibre degeneration in brain areas connected with the frontal cortex. Golgi staining at 60 days showed a loss of pyramidal cells in the primary focal area. In the lesion and primary focal areas GABA, glutamate and aspartate were significantly reduced between 5--10 days post implantation. No changes in glutamine and glycine were found in either the lesion or pulmonary focus. No changes in amino acid content were found in the secondary focus or in glass implanted controls at any time. In cobalt-treated rats there were significant reductions in the transmitter related enzymes, glutamate decarboxylase, acetylcholinesterase, choline acetyltransferase and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase in the lesion area and primary and secondary foci at 4--8 days post implantation. Levels of these enzymes had recovered to normal by 24 days. Lactate dehydrogenase was reduced only in the lesion area. Beta-Galactosidase was reduced in the lesion area at 4 days but subsequent rose rapidly paralleling increasing gliosis around the lesion. It is concluded that cobalt-induced epilepsy is associated with relatively selective loss of neuronal tissue and provides a useful model for further investigation relevant to clinical epilepsy.