Changes in Subcortical Visual and Auditory Evoked Potentials Following Amygdaloid Kindling in Cats

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Abstract
This study dealt with the changes in visual and auditory evoked potentials following kindling to reveal the distant effects of epileptic activity in cats. Visual and auditory evoked potentials were obtained initially. Daily stimulation of 60 Hz (rectangular wave, 1 ms duration, 500 .mu.A peak current, 2 s train) was given to the right amygdala for kindling. Then evoked responses were recorded again. In the auditory system the changes of responses in the cortex, medial geniculate nucleus and cochlear nucleus were distinguished. The changes of potentials in the subcortex were larger than those at the cortical level. For visual evoked potentials there was a discrepancy between stimulation with light and electrical stimulation of the optic chiasm. There was no significant change in amplitude of visual evoked potentials by flash. In the case of optic chiasm stimulation an enlargement of evoked responses was obtained. These results indicate modality-specific change of the auditory system and widespread subcortical change. These results might be caused by some vulnerability of the auditory system in the case of amygdaloid kindling as a result of the epileptogenic process.