gamma-Vinyl GABA in endopiriform area suppresses kindled amygdala seizures

Suppression of kindled amygdala seizures in rats followed bilateral infusion of the GABA transaminase inhibitor gamma-vinyl-GABA (GVG) into the endopiriform area of the forebrain. The deep prepiriform cortex of the rat is an important site for both initiation and arrest of generalized seizures induced by systemic convulsants. To determine whether this area also regulates the spread of amygdala seizures, the irreversible GABA-transaminase blocking agent, GVG (vigabatrin) was infused bilaterally in the deep prepiriform area in amygdala-kindled rats. Twenty-four hours after the infusion, kindled seizure threshold was elevated in 12 of 13 rats tested. If homologous areas exist in the primate brain, treatment strategies that take advantage of critical areas for seizure spread by local infusion of inhibitory agents or transplantation of GABA-containing cells may be developed for suppressing intractable seizures in humans.