Neonatal Tactile Stimulation Downregulates Dendritic Spines in Layer V Pyramidal Neurons of the WAG/Rij Rat Somatosensory Cortex.

Objective: The aim of our study is to examine the effects of neonatal tactile stimulations on the brain structures that previously defined as the focus of epilepsy in the Wistar-Albino-Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rat brain with genetic absence epilepsy.

Methods: In the present research, morphology and density of dendritic spines were analyzed in layer V pyramidal neurons of the somatosensory cortex (SoCx) of WAG/Rij rats (nonstimulated control, tactile-stimulated, and maternal separated rats) and healthy Wistar (nonepileptic) rats. To achieve this, a Golgi-Cox method was used.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) conducts the neuronal activity during absence seizures: GABA seems to be the main mediator of VIP.

Absence epilepsy is classified as a childhood generalized epilepsy syndrome with distinctive electroencephalographic patterns. The Wistar Albino Glaxo originating from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) strain is a very well validated animal model of absence epilepsy that also shows behavioral deficits. In addition to the gastrointestinal system, VIP is highly expressed throughout numerous brain regions, and it plays crucial roles as a neurotransmitter and as a neuromodulatory, neurotrophic and neuroprotective factor in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Age dependent effects of Retigabine on absence seizure in WAG/Rij rats; an experimental study.

Retigabine (RTG, Ezogabine, DC23129) is the first neuronal potassium channel opener in the treatment of epilepsy and exerts its effects through the activation of neuronal KCNQ2/3 potassium channels; in higher doses, it acts also on sodium and voltage-gated calcium channels. The aim of this study was to investigate possible age-dependent therapeutic effects of RTG on spike-and-wave discharges (SWD) in an animal model of absence epilepsy using WAG/Rij rats. In this study, 6- and 12-month-old WAG/Rij rats were used.

Agmatine has beneficial effect on harmaline-induced essential tremor in rat.

Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most prevalent movement disorders and the most common cause of abnormal tremors. However, it cannot be treated efficiently with the currently available pharmacotherapy options. The pathophysiology of harmaline-induced tremor, most commonly used model of ET, involves various neurotransmitter systems including glutamate as well as ion channels.

Etanercept rescues cognitive deficits, depression-like symptoms, and spike-wave discharge incidence in WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to be associated with the development of seizures in the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy. Importantly, WAG/Rij rats also exhibit cognitive deficits and depression-like behaviors. It is possible that pro-inflammatory cytokines mediate these comorbid conditions of absence epilepsy given their well-established effects on cognition and affective responses.

Effects of leptin, ghrelin and neuropeptide y on spike-wave discharge activity and certain biochemical parameters in WAG/Rij rats with genetic absence epilepsy.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of leptin, ghrelin and neuropeptide-Y on the development of nonconvulsive seizure activity and their role on combating oxidative stress and cytokines produced by the systemic immune response in the WAG/Rij rat model for genetic absence epilepsy. Current study showed that all three peptides aggravated spike wave discharges activity and affected the oxidative stress in WAG/Rij rats without any significant changes in the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α except leptin that only induced an increment in the concentration of IL-1β. Our results support the modulatory role of these endogenous peptides on absence epilepsy.

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

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.

The lower expression of parvalbumin in the primary somatosensory cortex of WAG/Rij rats may facilitate the occurrence of absence seizures.

Absence epilepsy (AE) is classified as a genetic generalized epilepsies. WAG/Rij strain of rats are regarded one of the most validated models of absence epilepsy. Studies point out the existence of hyperexcitable focus in somatosensory cortex of these rats, which has been attributed to the deficits in the GABAergic system.

Antagonism of adenosinergic system decrease SWD occurrence via an increment in thalamic NFkB and IL-6 in absence epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a major pathological condition, characterized by recurrent seizures and affecting approximately 1% of the population. Many studies have shown a relationship between epilepsy and inflammation. The adenosinergic system contributes to inflammation and epilepsy by regulating the release of neurotransmitters through its various receptors.

Decreased ERp57 Expression in WAG/Rij Rats Thalamus and Cortex: Possible Correlation with Absence Epilepsy.

Background: The role of intracellular proteins in the pathogenesis of absence epilepsy were mentioned. These proteins are thought to be related to energy generation, signal transduction, inflammation processes and membrane conductance.

Objectives: The investigation of protein profile of the genetically epileptic rat brains was the main subject of this study.

The Effects of Adenosinergic Modulation on Cytokine Levels in a Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure Model.

Objective: It has been suggested that the adenosinergic system and cytokines play a role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Although the role of the adenosinergic system in the modulation of seizure activity is well known, the mechanism of this modulation needs to be described in detail. We performed this study to determine the contribution of the proinflammatory cytokines to the generalized seizure activity during adenosine and caffeine treatment.

Changes in electroencephalographic characteristics and blood-brain barrier permeability in WAG/Rij rats with cortical dysplasia.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of cortical dysplasia (CD) on electrophysiology and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in WAG/Rij rats with genetic absence epilepsy.

Methods: Pregnant WAG/Rij rats were exposed to 145cGy of gamma-irradiation on embryonic day 17 to induce CD. An electroencephalogram was recorded from cortices subdurally in the offspring of the pregnant animals.

Effects of gestational and lactational exposure to low dose mercury chloride (HgCl2) on behaviour, learning and hearing thresholds in WAG/Rij rats.

We investigated the effects of inorganic mercury exposure during gestational/lactational periods on the behaviour, learning and hearing functions in a total of 32, 5-week-old and 5-month-old WAG/Rij rats (equally divided into 4 groups as 5-week and 5-month control mercury exposure groups). We evaluated the rats in terms of locomotor activity (LA), the Morris-water-maze (MWM) test and the passive avoidance (PA) test to quantify learning and memory performance; we used distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests to evaluate hearing ability. There were no significant differences between the 5-week-old rat groups in LA, and we detected a significant difference (p < 0.

The effect of leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide-Y on serum Tnf-Α, Il-1β, Il-6, Fgf-2, galanin levels and oxidative stress in an experimental generalized convulsive seizure model.

The objective of this study is to examine the effects of the endogenous ligands leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) on seizure generation, the oxidant/antioxidant balance, and cytokine levels, which are a result of immune response in a convulsive seizure model. With this goal, Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups-Group 1: Saline, Group 2: Saline+PTZ (65mg/kg), Group 3: leptin (4mg/kg)+PTZ, Group 4: ghrelin (80μg/kg)+PTZ, and Group 5: NPY (60μg/kg)+PTZ. All injections were delivered intraperitoneally, and simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) records were obtained.

Effects of linoleic acid on generalized convulsive and nonconvulsive epileptic seizures.

Background/aim: To comparatively investigate the effects of linoleic acid on convulsive and nonconvulsive epileptic seizures.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided into 3 groups: convulsive epileptic rats receiving only pentylentetrazole (PTZ) injections (group 1), convulsive epileptic rats receiving PTZ and linoleic acid (group 2), and Wistar Albino Glaxo rats from Rijswijk with genetic absence epilepsy receiving linoleic acid (group 3). The duration and severity of convulsive activity were determined in groups in which convulsive seizures were induced by PTZ.

The effects of vagal nerve stimulation in focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of VNS in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) rat model of ischemia based on behavioral, morphological, and molecular approaches.

Material And Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups: ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), I/R+VNS, and sham (for I/R). Each group was further divided into two subgroups for the assessment of neurological deficits and infarct area, or biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress.

The effect of memantine in harmaline-induced tremor and neurodegeneration.

Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common and most disabling movement disorders among adults. The drug treatment of ET remains unsatisfactory. Additional therapies are required for patients with inadequate response or intolerable side effects.

Effect of pentylenetetrazole and sound stimulation induced single and repeated convulsive seizures on the MDA, GSH and NO levels, and SOD activities in rat liver and kidney tissues.

Objectives: the aim of our study was to evaluate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) in liver and kidney tissues in a rat model of convulsive seizure induced by single and repeated doses of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and sound stimulation with key ringing.

Materials And Methods: male Wistar adult rats (n=48), were used in the experiment. The animals were divided into six groups: (1) Single Seizure Control Group (SS-Control; n=8), (2) Repeated Seizures Control Group (RS-Control; n=8), (3) PTZ induced Single Seizure Group (SS-PTZ Group; n=8), (4) PTZ induced Repeated Seizures Group (RS- PTZ Group; n=8), (5) Key-Ringing Induced Single Seizure Group (SS-KEY Group; n=8), (6) Key-Ringing Induced Repeated Seizures Group (RS-KEY Group; n=8).

Perirhinal cortical kindling in rats with genetic absence epilepsy.

Two genetic models of absence epilepsy, GAERS and WAG/Rij rat strains, are resistant to progression of partial seizures induced by amygdaloid or hippocampal kindling. Perirhinal cortex is one of the crucial areas for the secondary generalization of partial seizures. Therefore we focused on perirhinal cortical kindling in both epileptic rat strains and examined whether the resistance to limbic epilepsy is restricted to the amygdala and hippocampus or whether it can also occur with perirhinal cortical kindling.

Electroencephalographic differences between WAG/Rij and GAERS rat models of absence epilepsy.

The inbred Wistar Albino Glaxo Rats from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) and the Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) are well-validated genetic models of absence epilepsy. Although they share similar characteristics including the spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) in the EEG, some differences have been reported between both strains. This study aimed a systematic and detailed comparison of the SWD patterns of both strains in terms of the intensity, frequency and waveform morphology of the discharges by using exactly the same measurement and analysis techniques.

Analysis of spike-wave discharges in rats using discrete wavelet transform.

A feature is a distinctive or characteristic measurement, transform, structural component extracted from a segment of a pattern. Features are used to represent patterns with the goal of minimizing the loss of important information. The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) as a feature extraction method was used in representing the spike-wave discharges (SWDs) records of Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats.