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Cortical and thalamic lesions in rats with genetic absence epilepsy

  • Conference paper
Generalized Non-Convulsive Epilepsy: Focus on GABA-B Receptors

Part of the book series: Journal of Neural Transmission ((NEURAL SUPPL,volume 35))

Summary

In generalized, non-convulsive, absence epilepsy, spike-and-wave discharges (SWD) are recorded in both the cortex and the thalamus. The effect of various cortical and thalamic lesions on the occurrence of spontaneous SWD was examined in rats from a strain with genetic absence epilepsy.

Cortical ablations suppressed SWD recorded in the thalamus. KCl induced unilateral cortical spreading depression and transiently suppressed SWD in the ipsilateral cortex and thalamus; SWD recovered simultaneously in both structures.

Bilateral thalamic lesions of the anterior nuclei, the ventromedial nuclei, the posterior area, or lesion of the midline nuclei did not suppress cortical SWD. However, large lesions of the lateral thalamus, including the specific relay and reticular nuclei, definitely suppressed ipsilateral SWD, and pentylenetetrazol, THIP or gammabutyrolactone failed to restore the cortical SWD.

These results demonstrate that the neocortex and the specific thalamic nuclei are both necessarily involved in the generation of SWD in absence epilepsy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie et Biologie des Comportements, Centre de Neurochimie du CNRS, Strasbourg, France

    Dr. M. Vergnes & C. Marescaux

  2. Centre de Neurochimie du CNRS, LNBC, 5, rue Blaise Pascal, F-67084, Strasbourg Cédex, France

    Dr. M. Vergnes

Authors
  1. Dr. M. Vergnes
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  2. C. Marescaux
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Clinique Neurologique, Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France

    C. Marescaux

  2. Centre de Neurochimie, C.N.R.S., Strasbourg, France

    M. Vergnes

  3. Pharma Division, Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland

    R. Bernasconi

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag

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Vergnes, M., Marescaux, C. (1992). Cortical and thalamic lesions in rats with genetic absence epilepsy. In: Marescaux, C., Vergnes, M., Bernasconi, R. (eds) Generalized Non-Convulsive Epilepsy: Focus on GABA-B Receptors. Journal of Neural Transmission, vol 35. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-9206-1_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-9206-1_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-82340-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-9206-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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