Elsevier

Epilepsy Research

Volume 103, Issues 2–3, February 2013, Pages 153-160
Epilepsy Research

Temporal evolution of neurophysiological and behavioral features of synapsin I/II/III triple knock-out mice

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2012.07.012Get rights and content
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Summary

Deletion of one or more synapsin genes in mice results in a spontaneous epilepsy. In these animals, seizures can be evoked by opening or moving the cage. Aim of the present study was to characterize the evolution of the epileptic phenotype by neurophysiological examination and behavioral observation in synapsin triple knock-out (Syn-TKO) mice. Syn-TKO mice were studied from 20 postnatal days (PND) up to 6 months of age by video-EEG recording and behavioral observation. Background EEG spectral analysis was performed and data were compared to WT animals. Syn-TKO revealed rare spontaneous seizures and increased susceptibility to evoked seizures in mice from 60 to 100 PND. Spontaneous and evoked seizures presented similar duration and morphology. At times, seizures were followed by a post-ictal phase characterized by a 4 Hz rhythmic activity and immobility of the animal. Spectral analysis of background EEG evidenced a slowing of the theta-alpha peak in Syn-TKO mice compared to WT mice within the period from PND 40 to 100. These data indicate that Syn-TKO mice do not exhibit a linear progression of the epileptic phenotype, with the period corresponding to a higher susceptibility to evoked seizures characterized by background EEG slowing. This aspect might be connected to brain dysfunction often associated to epilepsy in the interictal period.

Abbreviations

Syn-TKO
synapsin triple knock-out
PND
postnatal day
DSA
density spectral array
EEG
electroencephalography
EMG
electromyography
MDF
mean dominant frequency
FFT
fast Fourier transform

Keywords

Synapsins
Epilepsy
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Spectral analysis
C57BL/6 mice

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1

These authors equally contributed to this work.