[The ACTH and cortisol content of the blood in experimental focal epilepsy]

Abstract

In experiments on 87 freely behaving rats and 7 cats treated with d-tubocurarine and anesthetized with nembutal it was established that the generation of focus of epileptic activity (EA) in cerebral cortex by surface application of sodium benzylpenicillin is accompanied by an increase in the plasma level of ACTH (2-fold in rats and 2.5-fold in cats) with consequent rise in the plasma cortisol level (1.5-fold both in rats and cats). In cats a "delayed" rise in plasma ACTH was observed after the cessation of cortical EA. The described changes in plasma ACTH are a result of the pathological hyperactivity of neurons rather then a stressor component under the EA.