Physiologic and metabolic alterations associated with seizures in normoxic and asphyxiated neonatal dogs

The effect of asphyxia on seizures was determined in neonatal dogs. In normoxic (paralyzed and ventilated) neonatal dogs, bicuculline-induced seizures produced significant elevations of arterial blood pressure, PO2, glucose, lactate, and epinephrine. Cerebral blood flow increased severalfold; brain glucose, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and phosphocreatine (PCr) did not decrease significantly. In contrast, seizures during asphyxia were associated with hypoxia, hypotension, hypercarbia, and acidosis. Significant cerebral ischemia developed. Brain glucose, ATP, and PCr were significantly depleted. Complete oxygen deprivation during neonatal seizures exhausts brain energy stores, which leads to cessation of seizure activity.