Pentylenetetrazole induced changes in cerebellar energy metabolism.

Pentylenetetrazole was administered to Swiss-Albino mice, producing clonic-tonic seizures. Other groups were pretreated with one of the three anticonvulsants: phenytoin, clonazepam, or sodium valproate. Mice were sacrificed during the preseizure (1 minute) stage and at the onset of clonic-tonic seizures (2 minutes). Glucose, glycogen, ATP, and phosphocreatine were measured in layers of the parietal cortex and cerebellar vermis. Cortical metabolites were unchanged, or increased slightly, suggesting decreased utilization. In both cerebellar layers, glucose and glycogen were significantly decreased, and phosphocreatine was decreased in the molecular layer. These results indicate a regionally selective effect for pentylenetetrazole on cerebral energy metabolites. Pretreatment with anti-convulsants reduced the severity of the seizure, and eliminated the effect of pentylenetetrazole on glucose and glycogen.