GABA-gated chloride ion influx in brains of epileptic El mice

GABA-gated chloride ion influx was measured in brain microsac preparations of epileptic El mice. There was significantly greater sensitivity to GABA in stimulated El mice (which had 14–18 convulsions induced at weekly intervals) than in unstimulated El mice (which had not experienced convulsions) or ddY mice. GABA-gated chloride ion influx was significantly decreased 20 min after a single convulsion, and returned to the preconvulsion level 60 min after a convulsion. These findings suggest that the functional state of GABA-gated chloride channel in El mice is changed secondarily by single or repeated convulsions.