The proconvulsant properties of the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, endosulfan, were investigated using electrical kindling of the amygdala. Male rats were implanted with electrodes in the amygdala and stimulated once daily with a standard kindling stimulus 60-90 min following endosulfan (0, 2.5, 5.0 mg/kg, PO). No alterations were observed in either the threshold to induce an afterdischarge (AD) or the duration of clonus upon seizure generalization. Endosulfan significantly reduced the number of stimulations required to produce Stage 5 generalized seizures. Seizures prior to stimulation were evident in a subset of animals from both dosage groups and were never observed in controls. The presence of kindled seizures was maintained in the absence of further dosing, as amygdala stimulation 2-4 weeks after the last endosulfan treatment resulted in generalized seizures in all animals. The results suggest that faster kindling rates induced by endosulfan are not readily attributable to transient toxicant-related increases in excitability of the nervous system. It was concluded that endosulfan has proconvulsant properties that may be related to an action on GABA within the central nervous system. (Copyright (c) 1992 Pergamon Press Ltd.)