Regional cerebral energy metabolism in bicuculline induced seizures

In order to assess the early regional changes in energy metabolism in bicuculline induced seizures, mice were injected and sacrificed before the onset of overt seizure activity, and shortly after clonic-tonic seizures began. The energy metabolites glucose, ATP, and phosphocreatine were measured in layers of the motor cortex and the cerebellar vermis. Results showed minimal metabolite changes in the cerebellum, whereas changes in energy metabolism in the motor cortex were largely localized to the layers containing pyramidal cells. These results are in agreement with previous studies showing a relative sparing of the cerebellum, and suggest early cortical changes occur in pyramidal cells.