Audiogenic Seizures and Social Deficits: No Aggravation Found in Krushinsky-Molodkina Rats

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science
• Genetics

Background:

• Epilepsy affects over 70 million people, frequently co-occurring with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
• Seizures are suspected to contribute to social regression in individuals with ASD.
• Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats, a genetic model for temporal lobe epilepsy, exhibit social deficits and hypolocomotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if seizure experience exacerbates existing social deficits in KM rats.
• To determine the relationship between seizure activity and social behavior in an epilepsy animal model.
• To assess the translational potential of the KM rat model for studying comorbid epilepsy and social deficits.

Main Methods:

• Sound-triggered generalized tonic-clonic seizures were induced in KM rats.
• Locomotor and contact behaviors were assessed using the elevated plus maze, socially enriched open field, and social novelty/preference tests.
• Dominance behavior was evaluated using the tube dominance test.

Main Results:

• Triple seizure provocations minimally impacted contact behavior in KM rats.
• Social deficiency in KM rats was characterized by a poor contact repertoire, independent of hypolocomotion and anxiety.
• Seizure experience did not correlate with or worsen the observed social contact deficits.

Conclusions:

• The experience of generalized tonic-clonic seizures does not lead to regression in contact motivation in this genetic epilepsy model.
• Social behavioral deficits in KM rats are dissociated from seizure experience.
• The KM rat model holds translational potential for neurophysiological and pharmacological research into social deficits comorbid with epilepsy.