title: Characterization of pinealectomy induced convulsions in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).
abstract: The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) exhibits convulsions after pinealectomy (PX). Included in the convulsions are wild running, tonic-clonic activity, and occasionally death. This paper reports various parameters that influence the convulsions. Animals 60 and 90 days old have a shorter latency to onset of convulsions than do 30-day-old gerbils. Animals pinealectomized at the onset of light (0600) in an LD 14:10 photoperiod have a shorter latency to onset and greater number of convulsions than animals pinealectomized at other times. Modulation of the photoperiod to LD 20:4 and 4:20 does not affect the convulsions. Superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGX) does not result in convulsions; subsequent PX of the SCGX animals does. Replacement of pineal extract does not prevent the convulsions. The PX induced convulsion in gerbils resembles the parathyroidectomy-pinealectomy induced convulsion in the rat in all aspects, but with a shorter latency to onset.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000502:physiology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014020:Tissue Extracts; D013654:Taurine; D008550:Melatonin