Penicillin-induced epileptiform activity elevates focal brain temperature in anesthetized rats

To elucidate a relationship between changes in focal brain temperature and severity of abnormal brain activity, epileptiform discharges and behavioral seizures were induced by Penicillin G in anesthetized rats, and focal brain-temperature was measured. Penicillin G was injected into the right primary sensorimotor cortex (400 IU/μl). After the injection, epileptiform discharges induced a temperature increase gradually by 0.65 ± 0.24 °C. Moreover, when behavioral seizures were induced by reducing the anesthesia level, the temperature was raised by 0.26 ± 0.22 °C. These results suggest that elevation of the focal brain temperature is associated with the severity of epileptic activity.