Limbic status epilepticus: behaviour and sleep alterations after intra-amygdaloid kainic acid microinjections in Papio papio baboons

Abstract

Limbic status epilepticus was produced with single microinjections of kainic acid in the amygdala of baboons ( Papio papio). Long-term studies of the behavioral, electrographic and sleep alterations were performed. During status epilepticus the animals did not display aggressive behaviour. Feeding behaviour was diminished. Sleep was also deeply disturbed. Wakefulness was greatly increased, light slow wave sleep was diminished and deep slow wave sleep and paradoxical sleep were abolished. Sleep alterations persisted throughout the duration of status epilepticus (48–72 h). A modulation of paroxysmal discharges was observed depending on the degree of epileptogenicity of the limbic focus. Increased wakefulness cannot be attributed to convulsions since limbic status epilepticus in baboons is not accompanied by positive motor signs. It is proposed that increased wakefulness, of a particular type as revealed by the alterations of different accompanying behaviours, during this type of status epilepticus, depends on an internal arousing mechanism.