Abstract
Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings were made from unanesthetized, freely moving tottering mice. This neurological mutant exhibits spontaneous motor seizures. Although the intention of the present study was to determine an electrographic correlate of the motor seizures, no epileptiform discharge was found which was reliably associated with this type of ictal event. The present study revealed the occurrence of a paroxysmal pattern which appeared independently of the motor seizures. The polyspike pattern was a 6 s burst resembling the 3 s spike-wave complex often recorded in human epileptics. The waking behavior associated with the polyspiking in the tottering mice consisted of immobility and staring. In addition, polyspike bursts occurred during drowsiness. It is possible that the cerebellar defects found in tottering mice are related to their gait disturbance and to their motor seizures. The polyspike discharge appears to represent an independent ictal event, suggesting that tottering mice are susceptible to both motor and “absence” seizures. Previously documented examples of naturally occurring epilepsy consisted primarily of stimulus-evoked or “reflex” seizures. Tottering mice show promise for research of spontaneous, recurrent paroxysmal activity in a hereditary type of epilepsy.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call