[Cytomorphological features of the neocortex in rats with genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy]

The aim of the study was to examine putative microstructural changes in the neocortex which accompany absence epilepsy. Rat strains WAG/Rij as a genetic model of absence epilepsy and ACI (control) were examined. Brain slices were stained after Nissl; neuronal and glial cells were identified and counted in the somatosensory, motor, and cingular cortices (in layers II/III, V, and VI, individually). In WAG/Rij rats, the density of neurons in the superficial layers (II/III) of the motor cortex appeared to be lower than in healthy control rats, whereas the density ofglial cells in WAG/Rij rats was higher. In the deep layers of the somatosensory and cingular areas, the density ofglial cells in WAG/Rijrats rats was lower as compared to control rats. The results demonstrate that absence epilepsy is associated with cytomorphological changes in the neocortex.