title: Mouse strain variation in maximal electroshock seizure threshold.
abstract: Maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) is a classical measure of seizure sensitivity with a wide range of experimental applications. We determined MEST in nine inbred mouse strains and one congenic strain using a procedure in which mice are given one shock per day with an incremental (1 mA) current increase in each successive trial until a maximal seizure (tonic hindlimb extension) is elicited. C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice exhibited the highest and lowest MEST, respectively, with the values of other strains falling between these two extremes. The relative rank order of MEST values by inbred strain (highest to lowest) is as follows: C57BL/6J > CBA/J = C3H/HeJ > A/J > Balb/cJ = 129/SvIMJ = 129/SvJ > AKR/J > DBA/2J. Results of experiments involving a single electroconvulsive shock given to separate groups of mice at different current intensities suggest that determination of MEST by the method used is not affected by repeated sub-maximal seizures. Overall, results document a distinctive mouse strain distribution pattern for MEST. Additionally, low within strain variability suggests that environmental factors which affect quantification of MEST are readily controlled under the conditions of this study. We conclude that MEST represents a useful tool for dissecting the multifactorial nature of seizure sensitivity in mice.
authors: Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6140, USA. tnf@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors: Thomas N
authors: TN
authors: Ferraro
authors: Gregory T
authors: GT
authors: Golden
authors: George G
authors: GG
authors: Smith
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: DeMuth
authors: Russell J
authors: RJ
authors: Buono
authors: Wade H
authors: WH
authors: Berrettini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020297:Mice, Congenic; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype