Lesions of substantia nigra protect against experimentally induced seizures

Bilateral lesions of substantia nigra (SN) were evaluated for anticonvulsant effects in rats. Electrolytic and kainic acid lesions of SN reduced bicuculline-elicited seizure activity; lesions in the ventral midbrain tegmentum adjacent to SN were without an anticonvulsant effect. Lesions of SN also reduced the incidence and duration of tonic hindlimb extension in the maximal electroshock seizure test. Bilateral SN lesions appeared to decrease seizure susceptibility to a given stimulus intensity rather than altering the motor pattern of the seizures. Our results support the view that SN efferents constitute a critical gating mechanism in the propagation of seizure activity.