title: Electroencephalography in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).
abstract: The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a popular laboratory animal and is used in a multitude of behavioural studies. However, it has been shown that it suffers from different forms of hereditary hydrocephalus, which may result in behavioural changes. This prospective study was designed to look into the usefulness of electroencephalography (EEG) measurements in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus in hamsters. The EEGs of the hydrocephalic hamsters were evaluated double-blind and showed a high-voltage slow wave activity, with a fast activity superimposed onto it. This pattern has already been well described in other hydrocephalic species and differed significantly from the EEGs that were obtained from the normal hamsters. It was concluded from our study that a background activity with an amplitude over 50 muV in combination with a frequency of < or =5 Hz was highly indicative of hydrocephalus in young hamsters. We believe that the EEG could be a very useful diagnostic tool in the screening for hydrocephalus in hamsters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. monty.bali@itn.unibe.ch
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gebhardt-Henrich
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steiger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gattermann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergamasco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kronen
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Doherr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Botteron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaggy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D006224:Cricetinae; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology