Between Audiogenic Seizure Susceptible and Resistant Mice and Deermice

DOYLE, R. L. AND O. Z. SELLINGER. Differences in activity in cerebral methyltransferases and monoamine oxidases between audiogenic seizure susceptible and resistant mice and deermice. PHARMAC. BIOCHEM. BEHAV. 13(4) 589--591, 1980.--The specific activity of cerebral histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT) was significantly lower in the audiogenic seizure-susceptible (SS) 21-day old DBA/2J mouse when compared to the non-susceptible 70-day old DBA/2J mouse but not when compared to the seizure-resistant (SR) C57B1/6J mouse at 21 days of age. There was no significant difference between the two strains at 70 days of age. The lower HMT specific activity was also observed in a SS mutant of the deermouse Peromyscus maniculatus, relative to the SR, wild-type animal. The activity of cerebral catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was significantly ower in the DBA/2J mice relative to the C57Bi/6J at 21 and 70 days while, in Peromyscus, it was higher in the SS mutant than in the SR animal. The activity of MAO, B was lower in the 21-day old, relative to the 70-day old DBA/2J and the 21-day old C57BI/6J mice. There were no differences inMAO A or B between SS and SR Peromyscus. The findings raise the possibility that cerebral methylation may operate at characteristic rates in SS animals. Brain methyltransferases MAO Audiogenic seizures Mus Peromyscus RECENT evidence obtained in our laboratory points to the involvement of methylation i the cellular esponse of brai