T2 relaxation time post febrile status epilepticus predicts cognitive outcome.
Evidence from animal models and patient data indicates that febrile status epilepticus (FSE) in early development can result in permanently diminished cognitive abilities. To understand the variability in cognitive outcome following FSE, we used MRI to measure dynamic brain metabolic responses to the induction of FSE in juvenile rats. We then compared these measurements to the ability to learn an active avoidance spatial task weeks later. T2 relaxation times were significantly lower in FSE rats that were task learners in comparison to FSE non-learners. While T2 time in whole brain held the greatest predictive power, T2 in hippocampus and basolateral amygdala were also excellent predictors. These signal differences in response to FSE indicate that rats that fail to meet metabolic and oxygen demand are more likely to develop spatial cognition deficits. Place cells from FSE non-learners had significantly larger firing fields and higher in-field firing rate than FSE learners and control animals and imply increased excitability in the pyramidal cells of FSE non-learners. These findings suggest a mechanistic cause for the spatial memory deficits in active avoidance and are relevant to other acute neurological insults in early development where cognitive outcome is a concern.
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, United States; Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States. Electronic address: jbarry4@uvm.edu.
Jeremy M
JM
Barry
Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
ManKin
M
Choy
Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
Celine
C
Dube
Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.
Ashlee
A
Robbins
Department of Radiation Medicine, Loma Linda University, Riverside, CA, United States.
Andre
A
Obenaus
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, United States.
Pierre Pascal
PP
Lenck-Santini
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, United States; Department of Neurology, University College London, Institute of Child Health, United Kingdom.
Rod C
RC
Scott
Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
Tallie Z
TZ
Baram
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, United States.
Gregory L
GL
Holmes
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
Cognition; Febrile status epilepticus; MRI; Place cells