Long-term reduction in beta-adrenergic receptor binding after amygdala kindling in rats

The long-term effect of amygdala kindling on beta-adrenergic receptor binding was examined in three groups of Wistar rats. The animals in one of two kindled groups received six stage-5 generalized convulsions, one each day, and then were not stimulated for 23 days before being killed (23-day group). Animals in the other kindled group received only five generalized convulsions prior to 22 days of no stimulation but then received their sixth convulsion 1 day before being killed (1-day group). All animals including the operated controls experienced similar handling. A significant reduction in [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding in the anterior cortex and kindled amygdala was observed in the 23-day animals compared with control animals, whereas the 1-day animals exhibited intermediate values which were not different from either of the other two groups. Thus, amygdala kindling results in a long-lasting reduction in beta-adrenergic binding which, paradoxically, can be partially ameliorated by a single convulsion 1 day before killing.