Audiogenic seizure levels in [formula omitted] mice as related to the priming and testing stimuli

Abstract

The effects of reversing two audiogenic priming stimuli during testing for audiogenic convulsions were examined in C57BL 6J mice not normally susceptible to audiogenic seizures on the first exposure to an acoustic stimulus. Mice were exposed to either a small ( b) or a large ( B) bell during audiogenic priming for either 10, 30, or 60 s at 16 days of age. They were then tested using either the same bell or under reversed conditions ( bb, BB, bB or Bb) at varying ages thereafter. Responses were graded as expected according to the duration of priming. The low incidences of audiogenic seizures observed during testing were similar for the bb and bB groups, and the high incidences were similar for the BB and Bb groups. Thus, priming conditions determine later seizure levels, not testing conditions.