Effect of repeated electrical stimulation in Pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling in male rats

ABSTRACT

Kindling is an animal model of epilepsy induced by repeated stimulation of the brain. The amygdala has been the focus of interest, due in large part to its role in epilepsy induction and in fear conditioning in both human and rats. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether low electrical stimulation of foot pad of rats during fear can facilitate kindling susceptibility. In this experimental study 25 wistar male rats were trained for two way active avoidance learning in the shuttle box and on the basis of escape response were divided into fast and slow learning rats. Then each group was randomly assigned into two groups. Test groups received conditional and unconditional stimulus and control groups received conditional stimulus for ten days. To induce kindling pentylenetetrazole was administered to rats and seizure parameters were eveluated. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Results demonstrated that slow learning rats in comparison to fast learning ones were more prone to kindling. Repeated electrical stimulation of slow learning rats during fear conditioning facilitates kindling induction is comparison to fast learning group. It seems that slow learning rats when exposed to repeated electrical stimulation after fear conditioning have more susceptibility to show seizure as compared to fast learning groups. It seems that neurons in the amygdala of slow learning rats have more exibility