Rodent Brain Pathology, Audiogenic Epilepsy

Abstract

The review presents data which provides evidence for the internal relationship between the stages of rodent audiogenic seizures and post-ictal catalepsy with the general pattern of animal reaction to the dangerous stimuli and/or situation. The wild run stage of audiogenic seizure fit could be regarded as an intense panic reaction, and this view found support in numerous experimental data. The phenomenon of audiogenic epilepsy probably attracted the attention of physiologists as rodents are extremely sensitive to dangerous sound stimuli. The seizure proneness in this group shares common physiological characteristics and depends on animal genotype. This concept could be the new platform for the study of epileptogenesis mechanisms.

Increased TRPV1 Channels and FosB Protein Expression Are Associated with Chronic Epileptic Seizures and Anxiogenic-like Behaviors in a Preclinical Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

“…The actual meaning of these overlayed substrates in the context of behavioral and evolutive neuroscience, although not the main goal of the current study, deserves further examination. Indeed, that challenge has been taken brightly in a recent comprehensive literature review by Inga Poletaeva´s research group [ 99 ].…”

Hereditary predisposition of water voles (Arvicola amphibius L.) to seizures in response to handling

“…According to the literature, reflex epileptiform seizures caused by tactile or acoustic stimuli are typical only for small rodents, which is associated with the structural and functional features of their central nervous system, due to which pathological, from a human point of view, behavioral responses to stimuli that inform about danger are carried out (Poletaeva et al, 2017;Fedotova et al, 2021). Convulsive states are probably a component of adaptive behavior formed in a "predator-prey" system.…”

Rodent Models of Audiogenic Epilepsy: Genetic Aspects, Advantages, Current Problems and Perspectives

“…Subsequently, a similar phenomenon of AE-proneness was found in mice [ 137 , 138 ]. In general, one may conclude that many laboratory rodent strains are generally characterized by increased sensitivity to loud sounds, which rodents do not encounter in a natural habitat, and which is presumably the hypertrophied startle reaction in response to alarming stimuli [ 139 ]. Therefore, the selection of strains predisposed to AE in rodents is rather quick, as rodent CNS has presumably the “stereotyped pattern” of reaction to strong sound.…”

“…In response to 100–120 dB sound onset, the first phase of a seizure develops (it is the so-called “wild run stage”), during which the animals rush around the cage or sound chamber. In essence, it is the defense reaction as an attempt to avoid sound, although with an admixture of involuntary movements, indicating the start of convulsions proper (sometimes this stage is called the “clonic run phase”) [ 139 ]. The next stages of the seizure proceed: clonic and tonic convulsions, followed by a post-convulsive state (catalepsy, or prolonged excitation) [ 137 , 140 , 141 ].…”