BEHAVIORAL-ANALYSIS OF AMYGDALOID KINDLING IN BEAGLE DOGS AND THE EFFECTS OF CLONAZEPAM, DIAZEPAM, PHENOBARBITAL, DIPHENYLHYDANTOIN, AND FLUNARIZINE ON SEIZURE MANIFESTATION

This paper describes the behavioral changes seen in beagle dogs during kindling and reports on the effects of clonazepam, diazepam, phenobarbital, diphenylhy-dantoin, and flunarizine on kindled seizures. Eight dogs were implanted stereotaxically in the right basolateral amygdala. After recovery, they were stimulated once daily at stimulation parameters evoking mastication in the first sessions. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures developed rapidly in all dogs with an intermediate stage of facial clonus, head nodding, and profuse salivation. Kindled seizures began with facial clonus, head nodding, and salivation, and were followed by opisthotonos, lifting of the contralateral forepaw, falling over backward, clonicity of the hind legs, tonic extension of the forelegs and hindlegs, quiescence, myoclonic jerking or running seizures; and terminated with wetshaking. Diazepam (2.5 mg/kg) and phenobarbital (10 mg/kg) inhibited all phenomena in all animals. Clonazepam (≥0.63 mg/kg) and flunarizine (≥5 mg/kg) protected two of three animals against tonic and clonic seizures, but clonazepam was ineffective against facial clonus. Diphenylhydantoin was ineffective at doses to 40 mg/kg. Spontaneous seizures were seen occasionally in all animals. Four dogs died after developing status epilepticus. Kindling in dogs occurred rapidly and did not show the five stages seen in rats, and when kindled, animals were susceptible to the development of spontaneous seizures and status epilepticus. © 1979.