Abstract
Summary
The effects of feeding 0.1% 6n-prophylthiouracil in the food for 9 days to an inbred strain of mice, DBA/2, recognized for its high susceptibility to sound-induced convulsive lethal seizures, were observed. One hundred and fifty-one mice were started the drug feeding at 21 days of age and 30 animals at 25 days. The animals were tested for sound-induced seizures at 30 days when the susceptibility was normally highest. Practically 100% protection from lethal seizures was produced by the use of the drug. Approximately 68% of the individuals showed no form of convulsion. The 32% which had some form of convulsive spasm did not show the severe seizures exhibited by the controls. In this convulsive group the influence of the drug was manifested by a temporary paralysis of the front legs causing hopping movements or the behavior took the form of a trance-cataleptic posture which lasted for 2 to 3 minutes. Also the spasmic convulsion was shortened in duration and the preconvulsive period was lengthened. It may be that the thyroid gland has some important role, even if secondary, in the onset or prevention of convulsive seizures as elicited by sound in the mouse.
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