MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES IN THE BRAIN OF MONKEYS FOLLOWING CONVULSIONS ELECTRICALLY INDUCED

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Abstract
Electrical currents, similar in type, intensity, duration of current flow and frequency with that used in human electric shock therapy, were found to cause morphologic changes in the C.N.S. of monkeys. The nerve cell alterations were mostly of the reversible type and consisted mainly of distention of the perivascular spaces and peri-vascular edema with some diapedesis of blood elements. These were believed to be related to circulatory disturbances and increased permeability of the blood vessel walls. When more intense current and current of longer duration was applied, minute petechial hemorrhages resulted. This was felt to support the contention that the severity of the lesions is proportional to the intensity of the electrical current, the duration of the current flow and, to a lesser extent, to the number of electric shocks. The histopathologic changes were more pronounced in the areas of tissue traversed by the main path of the current. It is felt that reversible chemical or structural changes, and possibly some permanent slight structural change, may be at the base of temporary alteration in the mental processes occurring in patients in the course of electric shock therapy.

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