title: The effect of spinal cord stimulation on seizure susceptibility in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) activates the thalamus, which may be involved in generation of seizures. SCS may therefore influence seizure susceptibility. We investigated the effect of SCS on seizure susceptibility when performed at low frequency (4 Hz) and a frequency in the typical range of SCS treatment (54 Hz).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided in three groups: control (N = 8), 4 Hz SCS (N = 6), and 54 Hz SCS (N = 8). Tonic-clonic seizures were induced by 10-min intravenous infusion of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). SCS was started 5 min prior to PTZ infusion and continued for 5 min after infusion offset. Seizure susceptibility was accessed via the latency, number, and total duration of seizures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four Hz SCS significantly increased seizure susceptibility. Fifty-four Hz SCS produced a nonsignificant trend toward decreased seizure susceptibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-frequency SCS is proconvulsive in rats. Further research needs to investigate if this also applies to humans.
authors: Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Department Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark. krauhe@hst.aau.dk
authors: Kristian R
authors: KR
authors: Harreby
authors: Cristian
authors: C
authors: Sevcencu
authors: Johannes J
authors: JJ
authors: Struijk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003292:Convulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole