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Audiogenic seizures in the developmentally primed Long-Evans rat
1Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, USA.
Developmental Psychobiology
|May 20, 1999
Summary
Audiogenic seizures (AGS) can be induced in seizure-resistant Long-Evans rats through acoustic priming. This study details how age at priming, stimulus intensity, and repeated testing influence AGS development in these rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Long-Evans rats are typically resistant to audiogenic seizures (AGS).
- Understanding seizure susceptibility in rodent models is crucial for neurological research.
- Acoustic priming is a method to induce seizure susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate acoustic priming parameters for inducing AGS in Long-Evans rats.
- To determine the effects of postnatal development, stimulus intensity, repeated testing, and gender on AGS.
- To establish the Long-Evans rat as a viable model for AGS research.
Main Methods:
- Rats were exposed to 125-dB SPL 10-kHz tone bursts between postnatal days 14-36.
- Testing for AGS was conducted using white noise at 14 or 19 days post-priming.
- Stimulus intensity, age at priming, and repeated testing were systematically varied.
Main Results:
- All priming and testing combinations successfully induced AGS susceptibility.
- Priming at 18 days of age resulted in the highest incidence of clonic seizures.
- Seizure behaviors were observed at 100 dB, with full clonus at 120 dB.
- Repeated testing at 120 dB increased seizure latency and duration, and wild running activity.
- Gender had minimal impact on AGS expression.
Conclusions:
- The Long-Evans rat can be rendered susceptible to AGS via acoustic priming.
- Age at priming and stimulus intensity are critical factors in AGS induction.
- This study validates the Long-Evans rat as a useful model for studying audiogenic seizures.