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Animal model of posthypoxic myoclonus: II. Neurochemical, pathologic, and pharmacologic characterization
Author(s) -
Kanthasamy Anumantha G.,
Nguyen Bang Q.,
Truong Daniel D.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.870150707
Subject(s) - myoclonus , neurochemical , neuroscience , animal model , medicine , psychology
Abstract The sudden, brief, shock‐like, involuntary movements caused by active muscular contractions or inhibitions characterize myoclonus. It is manifested in a wide variety of pathologic conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves, and is thought to be related to neuronal hyper‐excitability. The pathology, physiology, and pharmacology of myoclonus are not well understood as a result of the rarity of the disorder in people and the lack of a suitable animal model. Posthypoxic myoclonus is a major myoclonus syndrome which occurs as a result of severe cerebral ischemia/hypoxia. There has been tremendous interest in the development of a suitable animal model that reflects the etiology and clinical pathology of posthypoxic myoclonus. Recently, we have developed a new animal model of posthypoxic myoclonus in which rats were subjected to a mechanically induced cardiac arrest procedure. Herein, we describe the neurochemical, pharmacologic, and pathologic characteristics of this animal model of posthypoxic myoclonus.