Limbic self-sustaining status epilepticus in rats is not associated with hyperthermia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of limbic status epilepticus on temperature.


METHODS
The perforant path in freely moving rats was stimulated electrically for 120 min to induce self-sustaining status epilepticus (SSSE). For 150 min after the end of stimulation, epidural temperature and electrographic and clinical seizure activity were assessed in animals with limbic and motor SSSE, as well as in animals without development of SE.


RESULTS
Temperature in all animals with SSSE was elevated by 1.5+/-0.8 degrees C after the end of stimulation compared with baseline values (p<0.01). In animals with pure limbic SE, temperature decreased continuously to baseline values over the 150-min period of observation. In contrast, in animals with motor SSSE, temperature remained elevated during continuing epileptic activity and was still significantly higher 150 min after the end of stimulation compared with baseline (p<0.01). In animals that did not develop SSSE, temperature was not changed after the end of electrical stimulation and in the 150 min thereafter compared with baseline values.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that hyperthermia as seen in SE is the consequence of motor convulsions and not of epileptic activity itself, as seen in limbic SSSE.
Schmitt
Friedhelm C
FC
Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Matzen
Julia
J
Buchheim
Katharina
K
Meierkord
Hartmut
H
Holtkamp
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005334:Fever; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D019580:Perforant Pathway / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000503:physiopathology*