Physiology of Status Epilepticus in Primates

In adolescent baboons the intravenous injection of bicuculline induced generalized seizures lasting up to five hours, which sometimes led to brain damage or death. Marked initial rises in arterial and cerebral venous pressure were accompanied by severe metabolic and respiratory acidosis, hyperglycemia, and reduced cerebral arteriovenous (AV) differences for oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). In the second phase of the seizure (+25 to +300 minutes) blood pressure was normal or low, cerebral AV differences for O_{2 and}CO we_reenhanced, but cerebral venous oxygen tension was not critically reduced. There was severe hyperpyrexia, and hyperkalemia, and sometimes hypoglycemia. Death was cardiovascular in origin. A behavioral and electroencephalographic recovery could occur within three hours of generalized seizure activity lasting one to two hours.