title: Peripheral immune challenge with dsRNA enhances kainic acid-induced status epilepticus.
abstract: Clinical evidence implicates peripheral inflammatory diseases as comorbid factors in epilepsy. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the acute phase of antiviral response on seizure susceptibility. Young adult mice were intraperitoneally injected with 12 mg/kg of a viral mimic, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PIC). After 48 h, seizures were induced by subcutaneous injection of kainic acid (KA). PIC-pretreatment profoundly enhances vulnerability to excitotoxic insult as evidenced by increased seizure intensity and extended duration of status epilepticus. These results support the notion that peripheral viral infections may alter brain function resulting in enhanced predilection to seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, West Virginia University School of Medicine, 4052 HSCN, P.O. Box 9128, Morgantown, WV 26506-9128, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsay T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Kirschman
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borysiewicz
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fil
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Konat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D011070:Poly I-C; D007608:Kainic Acid