Wistar Albino Glaxo Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats are widely used in basic and pre-clinical studies as a valid genetic model of absence epilepsy. Spike-wave discharges in these rats appear spontaneously due to disturbance of thalamocortical neuronal circuitry. An abnormal thalamocortical rhythmogenesis in WAG/Rij rats (i.e. dysrhythmia) associates with disturbances of the slow-wave sleep. We examined spike-wave seizures and parameters of sleep using 3-channels electrocorticograms recorded in freely moving rats during approx. 24 h; sleep/waking states and micro-arousals were identified automatically using newly patented approach. We found (1) that more frequent spike-wave seizures in symptomatic rats were linked to a higher degree of NREM sleep fragmentation. (2) Spike-wave epilepsy in our rats seemed to promote micro-arousals during NREM sleep. However, we found peculiar associations between micro-arousals and age-related changes in the incidence of spike-wave seizures. More frequent micro-arousals and a higher number of NREM sleep episodes at the early symptomatic age (5 months) were found in subjects in which spike-wave seizures were reduced between the age of 5 and 7 months. Our results might be interpreted in accordance to the opinion of Peter Halász that micro-arousals – arousals without awaking – might play a «safeguarding function».
- Journal
- Articles
- Author Center
- Society
Editorial Board
The ESMED Editorial Board is comprised of experts from around the world.
Meet the community
See what our members have been working on.
Membership
Join ESMED for access to member-only content, congress discounts, and more.
- Policy