The effect of electrolytic lesioning of the midbrain prior to amygdala kindling in rats

Effect of midline electrolytic lesioning in the midbrain was examined in rodent amygdala (AM) kindling. During the primary site AM kindling, the lesioned rats (n = 5) needed a significantly larger number of stimulations to reach a final stage of kindled seizures (stage 5) than the sham operated ones (n = 5). During the contralateral secondary site AM kindling, none of the former animals showed a positive transfer effect (a reduction in the number of stimulations to reach stage 5), whereas all of the latter ones did. The findings indicate that in rats the lesioned area of the brainstem participates not only in the development of primary site AM kindling but also in the mechanism of transhemispheric positive transfer effect.