Carbon dioxide seizures in immature rats.

Abstract

SummaryThe incidence of seizures caused by exposure to and withdrawal from CO2 concentrations ranging between 5 and 50% was determined in adult rats and immature rats less than one month old. It was found that neither exposure nor withdrawal seizures could be elicited in animals less than 16 days of age, even though the same CO2 atmospheres produced seizures in older animals. It was concluded that the lack of response of very young rats to CO2 was primarily a manifestation of the general central nervous system immaturity of the infant rat, even though other factors, e.g., lack of CO2 equilibration, might also affect the CO2 response.