Glucose utilization during interictal intervals in an epilepsy model induced by pilocarpine: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
Interictal intervals in pilocarpine-induced chronic epilepsy are characterized by apparent normal electrographic activity and longer sleep periods or drowsiness or both. Sparse information exists concerning the neural network activity during these seizure-free intervals. In our research, a [14C]2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) autoradiographic technique was used to investigate interictal changes in the metabolism of the epileptic rat brain.


METHODS
Epileptic rats were monitored by video-EEG for approximately 120 days, with [14C]2DG injected after a seizure-free interval of > or = 24 h.


RESULTS
Autoradiographic analysis revealed an increase in glucose utilization by several brain regions; the most consistent increase was found in the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus and pretectal region.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus and the pretectal region may be involved in cerebral circuits inhibiting epileptic activity during interictal intervals.
Neurologia Experimental, UNIFESP-EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
F A
FA
Scorza
E R
ER
Sanabria
L
L
Calderazzo
E A
EA
Cavalheiro
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010862:Pilocarpine; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014743:Videotape Recording
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D010862:Pilocarpine; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D005947:Glucose