Prepubescent male rats with an amygdaloid electrode in place were administered kainic acid (KA) intraperitoneally (i.p.) while controls received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). All KA-treated animals developed status epilepticus with bilateral forelimb clonus and ictal discharges on the EEG. The rats were then tested as adults for learning, memory, emotionality, social interaction, and activity level using the T maze, water maze, handling test, home cage intruder test, and open field test. KA-treated rats learned at a slower rate in the water maze and T maze than the controls. In addition, KA-treated rats had evidence of impaired memory during spatial bias testing in the water maze. In the home cage intruder test, KA-treated animals were more submissive and less aggressive than control animals. Finally, KA-treated animals were significantly more active than control animals in the open field test. This study demonstrates that KA administration to the immature brain, in a convulsant dose, results in permanent changes in behavior, learning, and memory.
To determine whether frequent seizures can cause deficits in learning and behavior, immature genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPRs) were subjected to 66 audiogenic stimulations (Group 1). GEPR littermates were handled and placed in the sound chamber but were not stimulated (Group 2). Group 3 comprised genetically epilepsy-resistant rats (GERRs) who received audiogenic stimulations but had no seizures. After 3 weeks of stimulations the rats were tested for learning, memory, and behavior using the T-maze, water maze, open field activity test, home cage intruder test, and handling test. When compared with the control GEPRs and GERRs, Group 1 rats reached criteria less frequently in the T-maze, required longer times to find the platform in the water maze, and were less active in the open field activity test, less aggressive in the home cage intruder test, and more irritable and aggressive in the handling test. This study demonstrates that frequent, brief seizures in immature animals result in significant detrimental changes in learning, memory, activity level, and behavior.
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