title: Cognitive impairment and spontaneous epilepsy in rats with malformations of cortical development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the cognition, spontaneous epilepsy, and electroencephalography (EEG) characteristics of rats with malformations of cortical development (MCD) and their use as an animal model for investigating the pathogenesis of intractable epilepsy and screening novel antiepileptic drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  An epileptic rat model of MCD was established with the F1 generation of pregnant rats after X-irradiation with 175 cGy (Group L), 195 cGy (Group M), or 215 cGy (Group H). Long-term video-EEG monitoring was used to record the seizures in the rats with MCD. Cognition was assessed with the Morris water maze. The EEGs were recorded and analyzed in the frontal and parietal lobes and hippocampi of adult rats. Finally, the brain tissues were processed for Nissl staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The model groups exhibited markedly prolonged escape latencies and distinct decrements in the percent distance traveled in the target quadrant and platform-crossing frequency. These findings were dose-dependent. Frequent interictal epileptiform discharges were observed in the frontal and parietal lobes and hippocampi of adult rats, and their incidences were markedly higher in the model groups compared with that in the normal controls, with Group M having the highest incidence. Spontaneous seizures were observed in the model groups (mean incidence, 46.7%). The daily mean frequency of seizures and the incidence of spontaneous seizures were highest in Group M. Nissl staining revealed a dose-dependent pattern of hippocampal abnormalities, cortical and subcortical nodular heterotopia, and callosal agenesis in the model groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 195 cGy dose was most appropriate for establishing an epileptic model of MCD with X-irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye-wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China. Electronic address: maxuntai2002@126.com.
authors.forename: Ma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xun-tai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi-hua
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu-qun
authors.affiliation: Department of pathology, Affiliated Hospital of LuZhou Medical College, LuZhou, SiChuan Province 646000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao-ming
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D054220:Malformations of Cortical Development / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D065853:Spatial Learning / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Electroencephalogram (EEG); Long-term video monitoring; Malformation of cortical development (MCD); Morris water maze; Spontaneous seizures