The effect of procaine hydrochloride and diazepam, separately or in combination, on cortico-generalized kindled seizures

The effects of cortically kindled seizure responses of procaine hydrochloride, diazepam and combinations of these two drugs were tested in this study. The cortex was stimulated until seizure responses developed past the focal stage (accompanied primarily by brief tonic convulsions) to the cortico-generalized stage (accompanied, typically, by an early brief tonus followed by a longer clonic seizure that is characteristic of subcortically triggered seizures). Diazepam was found to block the generalized component of the cortico-generalized electrographic and motor seizure leaving the tonus only slightly suppressed. Procaine blocked the tonus leaving the clonic seizure and discharge that is characteristic of the generalized response relatively intact. Combinations of half doses of the two drugs completely blocked all electrographic and motor seizure responses in about half the animals. The remaining animals had a very brief discharge with no convulsive responses.