title: Developmental characteristics of picrotoxin-induced convulsions in rats with genetic absence epilepsy.
abstract: Adult rats with genetic absence epilepsy (GAERS) were shown to be hyperresponsive to convulsions induced by picrotoxin compared to nonepileptic controls (NERs). In contrast, young GAERS aged 22-26 days were less responsive than NERs to picrotoxin-induced convulsions. Around 30 days of age, when spontaneous spike-wave discharges develop in GAERS, the sensitivity of both strains did no longer differ. After 40 days of age, GAERS appeared definitely more prone than NERs to convulse in response to picrotoxin injection. A developmental imbalance in excitation/inhibition may parallel the occurrence of SWDs.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 398, Faculty of Medicine, 11 rue Humann, 67085, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vergnes
authors.forename: Any
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boehrer
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nehlig
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D003292:Convulsants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D010852:Picrotoxin