Evidence for the interaction of brainstem systems mediating seizure expression in kindling and electroconvulsive shock seizure models.

Amygdala kindling was observed to increase significantly the proportion of rats that exhibited tonic hindlimb extension in response to corneal electroshock stimulation. Mechanical brainstem lesions which abolished electroshock-induced tonic hindlimb extension failed to alter either the expression of fully generalized kindled seizures or the development of amygdala kindled seizures. Results suggest that while kindling can alter the sensitivity of brainstem systems involved in the expression of tonic hindlimb extension, these same systems are not necessary for either the development or expression of amygdala kindled seizures.