Development of Susceptibility to Seizures in Young Animals III. Brain Water, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Metabolism.

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Abstract
Susceptibility to maximal electroshock seizures has been correlated with distribution of water and electrolyte concentrations and total CO2 content of the cerebrum in newborn, 1-month-old and adult rats. Susceptibility is greatest at 1 month of age; it is related inversely to the ratio of extracellular to cellular Na and directly to the ratio of cellular and extracellular brain water. The relation to the distribution of K is inconstant. The newborn guinea pig, an animal more mature than the rat at birth, corresponds more closely to the older and adult rat, both with regard to seizure susceptibility and brain water and electrolyte metabolism. Failure to induce convulsions in the newborn rat is associated with a high level of total CO2 in the brain. Development of seizure susceptibility in older rats is related to a rise in brain carbonic anhydrase activity and to a reciprocal fall in total CO2 content of the brain.