Alterations of amygdaloid kindling phenomenon following repeated electroconvulsive shocks in rats

In this study we investigated the effect of the electroconvulsive shock (ECS) soon after each amygdaloid stimulation (KS) upon the development of a kindling phenomenon. Thirty male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Once daily stimulation of 200 microA, 1 msec, 60 Hz, 2 sec train by the right amygdaloid stimulation electrodes and the recording of the EEG were done. Rats of the Kindling + ECS group received the ECS through the clipped ears for five minutes after the KS. Behavioral manifestations, the duration of afterdischarge and the numbers of spikes were counted for five minutes at the time of every stimulation. The numbers of times the KS required to develop each stage were stage 1:4.8, stage 2:8, stage 3:8.6, stage 4:9.6, stage 5:12.6, respectively, on the kindling group. On the ECS-treated group, those were stage 1:8, stage 2:17, stage 3:18, stage 4: more than 20. The ECS soon after the amygdaloid stimulation retarded the process of kindling significantly. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that the electroconvulsive shocks disturb the information of the synaptic pathway before the consolidation of a central neuroplastic change underlying kindling.