GABA-gated chloride ion influx in brains of epileptic El mice

GABA-gated chloride ion influx was measured in brain "microsac" preparations of epileptic El mice. There was significantly greater sensitivity to GABA in stimulated El mice (which had 14-18 convulsions induced at weekly intervals) than in unstimulated El mice (which had not experienced convulsions) or ddY mice. GABA-gated chloride ion influx was significantly decreased 20 min after a single convulsion, and returned to the preconvulsion level 60 min after a convulsion. These findings suggest that the functional state of GABA-gated chloride channel in El mice is changed secondarily by single or repeated convulsions.