Brain active oxygen, free radicals, lipid peroxide and the redox state of glutathione in the Fe³⁺ induced epileptic focus of the rat

Abstract

Epileptic discharges were induced 15 minutes after 0.1M FeCl₃ was injected into the rat sensory motor cortex and continued for 6 months after the injection. In order to study the Fe³⁺ induced seizure mechanism, Fe³⁺ bound methemoglobin, free radicals, active oxygen, malondialdehyde and reduced and oxidized glutathione were measured in the foci of rats after the FeCl₃ injection. It was found that Fe³⁺ induced a significant increase in Fe³⁺ bound methemoglobin, active oxygen and malondialdehyde and accelerated the glutathione redox reaction 5 minutes after the injection. Fe³⁺ was thought to induce lipid peroxidation by free radical reaction and thus produce the peileptic focus.