Failure to detect a synergist for pentylenetetrazol in the blood of psychotic children

Pooled plasma or serum from psychotic children was administered subcutaneously to mice prior to an intraperitoneal challenge with pentylenetetrazol. Experiments ranging over a wide interval between injection of blood fluid and convulsant failed to reveal an optimum time at which seizure behaviour was effectively altered. No significant difference was observed in the proportion of animals convulsing or dying in comparison with a control solution of either saline or plasma or serum from normal children. In addition the mean time of onset of either clonic or tonic seizures and the mean time of death were not appreciably altered.

Two modifications in experimental design, whereby (a) individual plasma samples were injected into individual mice, and (b) samples giving rise to death of the animal were pooled and administered to a further group, produced no change in any of the varibles measured. The results do not support the reported evidence for a pentylenetetrazol synergist in the serum of psychotic children.