Effect of lactation on the expression of audiogenic seizures: association with plasma prolactin profiles

Female Wistar rats and Wistar audiogenic rats (WARs) were used to investigate the potential roles of prolactin (PRL) and progesterone in the modulation of seizure expression. Animals were screened for seizure severity in both groups. All WARs at least displayed tonic-clonic convulsions followed by clonic spasms (TC) whereas none of the Wistar rats displayed seizures (Resistant). After seizures the plasma level of PRL in nulliparous female WARs increased about 8-fold compared to their basal levels and to the levels of Resistant animals. This value was still significantly higher than basal levels 15 min later. Lactation produced a decrease in the TC proportion in seizures in WARs both with and without pups. Two sub-populations of animals could be characterized: one that had TC suppressed (low seizure severity; LSS) and one that did not (high seizure severity; HSS). In animals of the LSS subgroup, either with or without pups, seizure severity decreased gradually and lowest values were seen on the 30th day after delivery. The temporal profile of plasma PRL during a 90-min period of suckling without sound stimulation showed significantly higher levels for LSS, the HSS levels being similar to those of the Resistant group. A progressive decrease in the group means for progesterone plasma concentration between the 9th and 29th days of lactation was detected in Resistant rats (P<0.05) but not in WARs. No significant differences between groups were revealed by comparison of the overall means. Taken together these data confirm the presence of a clear-cut post-ictal PRL peak after TC with a decrease in seizure severity in female WARs with and without pups. An eventual long-term role of PRL in modulating seizure activity might be related to the multifactorial physiological conditions of both pregnancy and lactation.