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Kindling in spontaneous hypertensive rats
R S Greenwood1, R Meeker, H Sullivan
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7025.
Brain Research
|August 21, 1989
Summary
Spontaneous hypertensive rats, with higher vasopressin levels, developed kindled seizures faster than Wistar-Kyoto rats. This suggests vasopressin influences seizure establishment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Vasopressin is a neurohormone and neuromodulator impacting behavior.
- Rats with vasopressin deficiencies exhibit slower kindled seizure development.
- Spontaneous hypertensive (SH) rats show elevated plasma and brain vasopressin levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of vasopressin in kindled seizure development in SH rats compared to Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.
- To examine the relationship between vasopressin levels and seizure susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Amygdala and pyriform cortex kindling were performed in SH and WKY rats.
- Plasma vasopressin, osmolality, and hematocrit were measured via chronic indwelling catheters.
- Comparison included Sprague-Dawley rats for baseline data.
Main Results:
- SH rats kindled more readily, requiring fewer afterdischarges than WKY rats.
- The duration of afterdischarges to reach kindling stages was significantly shorter in SH rats.
- SH rats exhibited significantly higher plasma osmolality and vasopressin levels.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a role for vasopressin in the establishment of enduring behaviors, specifically kindled seizures.
- Elevated vasopressin may contribute to increased seizure susceptibility in SH rats.
- Vasopressin's influence on seizure phenomena warrants further investigation.