Catechol-O-methyl transferase and monoamine oxidase activities in brains of mice susceptible and resistant to audiogenic seizures.

The activities of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), monoamine oxidase (MAO), and a methanol forming enzyme were studied in whole brain homogenates and in livers obtained from DBA/2J, C57B1/6J, and F1 hybrid mice. DBA/2J mice are extremely susceptible to audiogenic seizures, whereas C57B1/6J mice are resistant to sound-induced convulsions. C57B1/6J mice were found to have significantly higher brain levels of COMT, while MAO activities were not different in animals of these genotypes. No methanol forming activity was detected in animals of either strain. No differences were found in hepatic activities of either COMT or MAO. Pyrogallol was shown to protect DBA/2J animals against audiogenic seizures.