Biogenic amines and the photomyoclonic syndrome in the baboon, Papio papio

The role of biogenic amines in the proclivity of the baboon, Papio papio, to exhibit an epileptoid response to flashing light was studied. Intraventricular injections of epinephrine and norepinephrine reduced or blocked the photomyoclonic syndrome without modifying ongoing behavior. Epinephrine was effective at doses of 100 mg and more, and norepinephrine was effective at doses of 250 mg and more. Neither intraventricular injections of as much as 1.5 mg of dopamine and 1.0 mg of serotonin nor chronic systemic administration of L-dopa and L-tryptophan affected the syndrome, but reserpine, administered chronically at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg/day, induced photosensitivity in previously nonphotosensitive animals. Seizure testing of usually photosensitive animals 12 hours after reserpine, 0.5 mg/kg, showed that the drug prevented totally or reduced the intensity of seizures in these animals. Studies of the spontaneous electroencephalogram and of visually evoked potentials of the reserpine-treated animals revealed changes in power spectra and in the averaged evoked response from the occipital area which paralleled the induction of photosensitivity. The probability that epinephrine and norepinephrine brain concentrations are essential for inhibitory modulation and control of seizures in this species is discussed.