Neonatal Tactile Stimulations Affect Genetic Generalized Epilepsy and Comorbid Depression-Like Behaviors

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that development of absence epilepsy and comorbid depression might be prevented by increased maternal care of the offspring, in which tactile stimulation induced by licking/grooming and non-nutritive contact seem to be crucial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of neonatal tactile stimulations (NTS) on absence epilepsy and depression-like behaviors in adulthood. Wistar Albino Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rat pups with a genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy were divided into tactile stimulation (TS) group, deep touch pressure (DTP) group, maternal separation (MS) group or control group. Between postnatal day 3 and 21, manipulations (TS, DTP, and MS) were carried out for 15 min and three times a day. Animals were submitted to locomotor activity, sucrose consumption test (SCT) and forced swimming test (FST) at five months of age. At the age of six months, the electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were conducted in order to quantify the spike-wave discharges (SWDs), which is the hallmark of absence epilepsy. The TS and DTP groups showed less and shorter SWDs in later life in comparison to maternally separated and control rats. SWDs’ number and total duration were significantly reduced in TS and DTP groups whereas mean duration of SWDs was reduced only in DTP group ( p < 0.05). TS and DTP also decreased depression-like behaviors measured by SCT and FST in adult animals. In the SCT, number of approaches was significantly higher in TS and DTP groups than the maternally separated and control rats. In the FST, while the immobility latency of TS and DTP groups was significantly higher, only TS group showed significantly decreased immobility and increased swimming time. The results showed that NTS decreases both the number and length of SWDs and the depression-like behaviors in WAG/Rij rats probably by increasing arousal level and causing alterations in the level of some neurotrophic factors as well as in functions of the neural plasticity in the developing rat’s brain.

Effects of Postnatal Caffeine Exposure on Absence Epilepsy and Comorbid Depression: Results of a Study in WAG/Rij Rats

“…The onset of absence epilepsy was delayed, and depression symptoms were reduced in the WAG/Rij pups that received intensive early maternal care by their foster Wistar mothers [15]. Our previous study showed that early neonatal tactile stimulations may decrease seizure activity and comorbid depression-like behaviors at adult ages in WAG/Rij rats [16]. These examples demonstrate the effect of early environmental factors on genetic absence epilepsy and comorbid depression.…”

“…Breaking more than 1 consecutive photobeam in the bottom set of photobeams was used as a measure of ambulatory activity. Total distance travelled (in cm) and numbers of stereotypic, ambulatory and vertical movements were analyzed [16].…”

Berührungsmedizin – ein komplementärer therapeutischer Ansatz unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Depressionsbehandlung

“…Intensität von frühem Körperkontakt, Bindung und dem Risiko späterer psychischer Störungen wie z. B. Depression hingewiesen 35 40 41 42 43 44 45 . Früher Körperkontakt stellt folglich eine primärpräventive Intervention dar, die sich positiv auf die physische und psychosoziale Gesundheit auswirkt 46 .…”

Neonatal Tactile Stimulation Modulates Dendritic Spine Densities in Somatosensory Cortex of Adult WAG/Rij rats

“…Increased early maternal care not only exerts antiepileptogenic effects but also counteracts the development of comorbid depression in adult WAG/Rij rats [10]. A previous study by our group have shown that tactile stimulation (TS) during postnatal period in WAG/Rij rats genetically predisposed to epilepsy reduced epileptic activity and comorbid depression in adulthood [11].…”