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Interictal EEG pattern in rabbit penicillin epilepsy

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Abstract

The effects of Na-penicillin G (1,000,000 I.U./kg i.v.) were studied in 28 rabbits implanted with surface and deep electrodes in the medial (mT) and lateral (lT) nuclei of the thalamus and in the cornu Ammonis dorsalis (CAd). Attention was focused on interictal spike activity, cortical spindle activity and spikes-spindles relationship.

A multifocal interictal EEG pattern, represented by cortical and thalamic spikes, was observed in 20 animals. A clear association between cortical spikes and spindles occurred almost constantly. Moreover a statistically significant increase in the average duration of spindles without changes in the average frequency was noticed. Seizure discharges had always a focal start and secondary generalization.

The EEG features of parenteral penicillin epilepsy in the rabbit appeared to be more similar to those of the rat than to those of the cat.

The spindle activity changes and the paroxysmal spike activity can be interpreted as two independent penicillin induced features appearing during raised cortical excitability periods.

Sommario

Sono stati studiati gli effetti della penicillina G-sodica (1.000.000 I.U./Kg.i.v.) in 28 conigli impiantati con elettrodi di superficie e con elettrodi profondi nel corno di Ammone dorsale (CAd) e nei nuclei talamici laterali (lT) e mediali (mT). In particolare sono stati esaminati l'attività di “spiking” intercritico, l'attività corticale di “spindling” e le relazioni spikes-spindles.

In 20 animali la penicillina ha indotto un pattern EEG intercritico multifocale con spikes presenti a livello corticale e talamico. A livello corticale le spikes erano quasi sempre associate a spindles. Inoltre le spindles, dopo penicillina, presentavano un significativo aumento della durata media, senza modificazioni della frequenza.

Il pattern EEG da somministrazione sistemica di penicillina nel coniglio appare più simile al pattern descritto nel ratto che a quello del gatto.

Le variazioni della attività di “spindles” e l'attività parossistica di “spikes” potrebbero essere due fenomeni indipendenti indotti dalla penicillina e presenti durante periodi di aumentata eccitabilità corticale.

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Gallitto, G., Musolino, R., Bonanzinga, M. et al. Interictal EEG pattern in rabbit penicillin epilepsy. Ital J Neuro Sci 7, 413–420 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02283019

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