title: Relationship between spike-wave discharges and vigilance levels in rats with spontaneous petit mal-like epilepsy.
abstract: The relationship between states of vigilance and spike and wave discharges (SWD) was examined during 12 hours in 4 Wistar rats from a strain bred for spontaneous generalized non-convulsant seizures. On the basis of cortical and hippocampal EEG and EMG activity, wakefulness (W), slow wave sleep (SWS) and paradoxical sleep (REM) were distinguished. Of the SWD 86% occurred during quiet W, 14% during the first minutes of SWS. No SWD occurred during active wakefulness and they were exceptional during REM. These results show that the states of quiet W and transitional states favour the SWD in rats with petit mal-like epilepsy, as in human petit mal.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Neurologique, Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lannes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Micheletti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vergnes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marescaux
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Depaulis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Warter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology