Premium
Spontaneous Epileptic Rats Show Changes in Sleep Architecture and Hypothalamic Pathology
Author(s) -
Bastlund Jesper F.,
Jennum Poul,
Mohapel Paul,
Penschuck Silke,
Watson William P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.63204.x
Subject(s) - epileptogenesis , ictal , epilepsy , status epilepticus , neuroscience , hippocampus , electroencephalography , sleep (system call) , stimulation , medicine , temporal lobe , psychology , pentylenetetrazol , anesthesia , anticonvulsant , computer science , operating system
Summary: Purpose: The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between sleep, hypothalamic pathology, and seizures in spontaneous epileptic rats. Methods: Rats were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters for measuring electrocorticogram (ECoG) and stimulation electrodes in the hippocampus. Epileptogenesis was triggered by 2 h of electical stimulation–induced self‐sustained status epilepticus (SSSE). After SSSE, ECoGs were monitored over a 15‐week period for the occurrence of interictal high‐amplitude low‐frequency (HALF) acitvity and spontaneous reoccurring seizures (SRSs). Results: Spontaneous epileptic rats showed clinical features of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), such as spontaneous seizures, interictal activity and neuronal cell loss in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, a region important for normal sleep regulation. Interestingly, epileptic rats showed disturbances in sleep architecture, with a high percentage of the seizures occurring during sleep. Conclusions: Therefore we conclude that a close association exists between epileptiform activity and alterations in sleep architecture that may be related to hypothalamic pathology.