The effects of pentylenetetrazole-induced status epilepticus on behavior, emotional memory, and learning in rats

Status epilepticus (SE) can cause spatial learning, memory, and behavioral deficits; however, little information is available, especially regarding the effects of such seizures on emotional memory and learning functions. We investigated the effects of SE on emotional memory, learning, and behavior in mature rats over short and long periods. SE was induced in 50- to 60-day-old rats (P50-P60) using intraperitoneal injections of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, n = 20); control rats received saline (n = 10). All animals were tested with elevated T-maze and open-field tests on the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 180th days after SE to evaluate emotional memory, learning, and behavior. The number of fecal boli increased, and one-way escape latency was long in a short period after SE. PTZ-induced SE causes transient memory deficits, which is related to unconditioned fear, but it did not cause any persistent abnormalities of behavior, emotional memory, and learning in mature rats.