Phenotyping mouse chromosome substitution strains reveal multiple QTLs for febrile seizure susceptibility

Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common seizure type in children and recurrent FS are a risk factor for developing temporal lobe epilepsy. Although the mechanisms underlying FS are largely unknown, recent family, twin and animal studies indicate that genetics are important in FS susceptibility. Here, a forward genetic strategy was used employing mouse chromosome substitution strains (CSS) to identify novel FS susceptibility quantitative trait loci (QTLs). FS were induced by exposure to warm air at postnatal day 14. Video electroencephalogram monitoring identified tonic-clonic convulsion onset, defined as febrile seizure latency (FSL), as a reliable phenotypic parameter to determine FS susceptibility. FSL was determined in both sexes of the host strain (C57BL/6J), the donor strain (A/J) and CSS. C57BL/6J mice were more susceptible to FS than A/J mice. Phenotypic screening of the CSS panel identified six strains(CSS1, -2, -6 -10, -13 and -X) carrying QTLs for FS susceptibility. CSS1, -10 and -13 were less susceptible (protective QTLs), whereas CSS2, -6 and -X were more susceptible (susceptibility QTLs) to FS than the C57BL/6J strain. Our data show that mouse FS susceptibility is determined by complex genetics, which is distinct from that for chemically induced seizures. This is the first dataset using CSS to screen for a seizure trait in mouse pups. It provides evidence for common FS susceptibility QTLs that serve as starting points to fine map FS susceptibility QTLs and to identify FS susceptibility genes. This will increase our understanding of human FS, working toward the identification of new therapeutic targets.