Fig. 1. Determination of monoamines and metabolites levels in striatum after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Male rats (250–280 g, 2 months old) were treated with a single dose of pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, s.c.; n = 7) and the control group with 0.9% saline (n = 13). Animals were submitted to a 1 h observation and afterwards sacrificed. Each bar represents mean ± S.E.M. of the number of animals shown in parentheses. ^ap < 0.05 as compared to control animals (ANOVA) and the differences in experimental groups were determined by Student–Newman–Keuls test. Dopamine (DA) and its metabolites 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanilic acid (HVA). Noradrenaline (NE), serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA).

Behavioural alterations in 21-day-old rats after treatment with pilocarpine

Male rats (250–280 g, 2-month-old) were treated with a single dose of pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, s.c.; n = 60) and the control group with 0.9% saline (n = 60). Animals were submitted to a 1 h observation and afterwards sacrificed. In the control group no alterations were noticed in the observed parameters. The values represent behavioural alterations in percentages. PCS: peripheral cholinergic signs; SM: stereotyped movements; SE: status epilepticus.

Muscarinic and dopaminergic receptors density in striatum of young rat after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus

Male rats (250–280 g, 2-month-old) were treated with a single dose of pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, s.c.; n = 4) and the control group with 0.9% saline (n = 8). Animals were submitted to a 1 h observation and afterwards sacrificed. Each bar represents mean ± S.E.M., of the number of animals shown in parentheses.