title: Absence epilepsy and the level of vigilance in rats of the WAG/Rij strain.
abstract: In man, a relationship exists between sleep-wake states and absence epilepsy. During wakefulness, spike-wave discharges predominantly occur when the level of vigilance is not high, while during sleep they have a preference to occur during slow-wave sleep. During this latter type of sleep, spike-wave discharges prevail in periods where slow-wave sleep is light. In a series of experiments, the WAG/Rij rat model for absence epilepsy was characterized with respect to the relationships between the level of vigilance, sleep-wake states and the occurrence of spike-wave discharges. In the first experiment, continuous recordings were made for a period of 48 h and a clear circadian rhythm was established for the number of spike-wave discharges. A maximum appeared during the middle of the dark period of the rat, whereas a minimum was detected directly after the onset of the light period, the time period during which deep slow-wave sleep predominates. The relationship of spike-wave discharges with states of vigilance was elaborated in a second study. Spike-wave discharges were mainly found during light slow-wave sleep, during passive wakefulness and in transition phases from sleep to wakefulness. During REM sleep no spike-wave discharges were found. In the last three experiments, the level of alertness was enhanced by various procedures as photostimulation, a learning task and deprivation of REM sleep. In all cases, an increase of alertness decreased the amount of epilepsy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Drinkenburg
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vossen
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: van Luijtelaar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology