Spike-wave seizures, slow-wave sleep EEG and morphology of substantia nigra pars compacta in WAG/Rij rats with genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy.

Spike-wave discharges (SWDs) are EEG hallmarks of absence epilepsy, and they spontaneously appear in adult WAG/Rij rats. SWDs are known to be vigilance-dependent and are modulated by monoaminergic mechanisms. It is also known that loss of neurons in the center of the nigrostriatal dopamine system, substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), is associated with a variety of sleep disorders.

Neonatal whisker trimming in WAG/Rij rat pups causes developmental delay, encourages maternal care and affects exploratory activity in adulthood.

WAG/Rij rats are genetically predisposed to absence epilepsy. Maternal behavior in WAG/Rij female rats is known to differ from that in non-epileptic females. We hypothesize that (1) mother's behavior may be changed as response to changes in pup's conditions; (2) sensory deprivation at the neonatal age affect learning and behavior in adulthood.