Lithium suppresses seizure susceptibility in pentylenetetrazol-kindled rats.

With regard to the still debatable effect of lithium in epilepsy the effect of chronic lithium treatment on the development of pentylenetetrazol(PTZ)-kindling and the anti-convulsive potency of acute lithium administration on PTZ-induced seizure behaviour in PTZ-kindled and non-kindled rats was examined. Lithium significantly suppressed the development of PTZ-kindling. In kindled rats the acute application of lithium reduced seizure susceptibility in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to kindled rats, in non-kindled animals lithium had very weak anticonvulsive potency. The results suggest that lithium may be of potential interest in the treatment of special forms of epilepsy and epileptic brain disorders.