gamma-Aminobutyric acid, benzodiazepine binding sites and gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations in epileptic E1 mouse brain.

All E1 mice provoked by postural stimulation since the age of 4 weeks had convulsions between 22 and 24 weeks of age, the refractory period ranging from 20 to 30 min. As compared to ddY mice, the maximal number of high-affinity [3H]muscimol binding sites was larger and the affinity was lower in the brains of the E1 mice, which had or had not experienced repeated seizures caused by postural stimuli. The basal and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-stimulated [3H]flunitrazepam binding sites, and GABA concentration in the brains of the E1 mice did not differ from those of the ddY mice. In E1 mice following provoked convulsions, there were no temporary changes in [3H]muscimol binding, or [3H]flunitrazepam binding with or without exogenous GABA stimulation. The GABA concentration in the brains of the E1 mice increased immediately after seizures, and returned to the control values within 60 min.