Abnormal Hippocampal Melatoninergic System: A Potential Link between Absence Epilepsy and Depression-Like Behavior in WAG/Rij Rats?

Absence epilepsy and depression are comorbid disorders, but the molecular link between the two disorders is unknown. Here, we examined the role of the melatoninergic system in the pathophysiology of spike and wave discharges (SWDs) and depression-like behaviour in the Wistar Albino Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rat model of absence epilepsy. In WAG/Rij rats, SWD incidence was higher during the dark period of the light-dark cycle, in agreement with previous findings.

Strain-dependent effects of sub-chronically infused losartan against kainic acid-induced seizures, oxidative stress, and heat shock protein 72 expression.

We studied the involvement of angiotensin (Ang) II AT1 receptors in the pathophysiology of kainate (KA)-induced neurotoxicity, focusing on the regulation of the oxidative stress state and expression of HSP 72 in the frontal cortex and hippocampus in two strains, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive Wistar rats. The KA injection was executed after the rats were infused subcutaneously via osmotic mini-pumps with losartan (10 mg/kg day) for 14 days. Losartan delayed the onset of KA-induced seizures in SHRs but not in Wistar rats without affecting the seizure intensity score.

Diurnal rhythms of spontaneous recurrent seizures and behavioral alterations of Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats in the kainate model of epilepsy.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can coexist with epilepsy. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) are considered to model ADHD with overactivity, impulsiveness, deficient sustained attention, and alterations in circadian autonomic profiles. The present study explored spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs) and behavioral diurnal activity rhythms in normotensive Wistar rats and SHRs in the kainate model of epilepsy.