Reversible brain hyperthermia during audiogenic seizures in rats.

Reversible brain hyperthermia during audiogenic seizures in rats. Acta Physiol. Pol., 1979, 30 (2): 273--277. Nine rats having inborn audiogenic susceptibility had chronically implanted Cu-constantan thermocouple and epidural EEG electrodes sewed into the skull. In freely moving animals audiogenic seizures were provoked by the use of common electric bell (approx. 100 dB). The EEG trace and brain temperature (with the accuracy of 0.05 degrees C) were recorded simultaneously during 1--8 hours. Temperature increases found during 23 audiogenic seizures were similar to those noted during intensive locomotor activity of animals without seizures. In thermoneutral environment (23 +/- 2 degrees C and humidity 65% +/- 10%) brain temperature never exceeded 41 degrees C.

[Usefulness of a strain of mice with genetically determined audiogenic epilepsy as a model of experimental epilepsy]. / Przydatnosc szczepu myszy obciazonych genetycznie padaczka audiogenna jako modelu padaczki doswiadczalnej

Behavioural and bioelectric characteristics of epileptic seizures caused by acoustic stimulus in mice from the Swiss Albino Rb strain with genetically determined audiogenic epilepsy are presented. The value of this epilepsy model is emphasized stressing that the epileptogenic stimulus acts from a distance, causing no damage to the nervous system and no artifacts. Besides that, seizures can be provoked at a definite frequency and at arbitrarily chosen time. A disadvantage of the model is the necessity of provoking each seizure separately which causes that this model cannot meet one of the conditions of Jasper's definition concerning spontaneity of seizure development. With regard to the course of seizure it is emphasized that it is somewhat similar to human grand mal epilepsy representing the basic phases of seizure. Electrophysiological investigations carried out under conditions of long-term fully reproducible experiment demonstrated presence of very evident and rich electrocorticographic symptomatology of audiogenic epileptic seizure whose behavioural phases show a high correlation with phasic changes in bioelectric brain activity. The investigations carried out in sleep failed to demonstrate differences in the susceptibility to seizure development when the stimulus was applied in waking state or in any of both phases of sleep. This strain is useful to morphological ultrastructural, biochemical and possibly electrophysiological investigations.