Low-frequency stimulation of the kindling focus delays basolateral amygdala kindling in immature rats

Stimulation of deep brain sites is a new approach for treatment of intractable seizures. In adult rats, low-frequency stimulation (LFS; 1-3 Hz) of the kindling site interferes with the course of kindling epileptogenesis. In this study we determined whether the LFS will be effective against the fast kindling in the basolateral amygdala in immature, 15 day old rats. LFS (15 min of 1 Hz stimulation) was applied after each of the 1 s, 60 Hz kindling stimulus. LFS suppressed afterdischarge duration and seizure stage throughout the course of kindling, which indicates a strong antiepileptogenic potential. As the kindling and LFS stimulation patterns are similar to those used for induction of long-term potentiation and long-term depression (LTD), respectively, LTD or depotentiation may play a role in the mechanism of action. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.