Experimental febrile convulsions: long-term effects of hyperthermia-induced convulsions in the developing rat

The susceptibility of infant rats to experimental febrile convulsions was investigated. Rats were subjected to a single hyperthermia convulsion at 5, 10, 15, or 20 days of age or the a series of convulsions from 5 to 20 days of age. Susceptibility to the experimental febrile convulsion decreased with age in all rats except those subjected to multiple convulsions. In this group, susceptibility tended to increase. This results is discussed in terms of its similarity to the kindling phenomenon and to the incidence of recurrent febrile convulsions in the human infant. Sex differences in susceptibility to the convulsion were examined, but none were found. Mature rats that had been subjected to experimental febrile convulsions as infants were found to be significantly more susceptible to a convulsive dose of pentylenetetrazol than controls. The results of this study indicate that even a single experimental febrile convulsion during infancy can exert a long-lasting, if not permanent, enhancement in seizure susceptibility. The similarities between the present findings and human infantile febrile convulsions are discussed.