[Endogenous phospholipase hydrolysis in the cerebral cortex during the development of epileptic activity]

The development of epileptic activity in the rat brain cortex is attended by activation of endogenous phospholipase hydrolysis. The development of primary-generalized epileptic activity induced by intramuscular injection of bemegride increased the content of free fatty acids in the brain tissue from 14 +/- 3 micrograms per mg protein in the control to 35 +/- 4 micrograms/mg. The appearance of focal cortical epileptic activity after penicillin application also provoked an increase in the content of free fatty acids in the brain tissue withdrawn from the hyperactive focus (from 40 +/- 5 micrograms/mg in the control to 75 +/- 10 micrograms/mg). Analysis of the free fatty acid spectrum in the brain tissue by gas-liquid chromatography has shown that the development of epileptic activity induced primary stearic acid accumulation by the brain cortex, a decrease in the relative content of short-chain fatty acids, a tendency towards arachidonic acid accumulation. It is assumed that endogenous phospholipase hydrolysis may be involved in the mechanisms of the development of epileptic activity.