Description |
From the results presented, it can be concluded that there are no differences in the maturation of the central nervous systems of audiogenic-seizure-susceptible and non-susceptible mice. The ability of audiogenic-seizure-susceptible animals to respond to sound with a convulsion decreases with increased age, whereas the ability of mice to respond to electroshock with a maximal seizure is retained throughout life. Audiogenic-seizure-susceptible mice differ in at least two ways from CF #1 mice. First, the oscillator mechanism of audiogenic-seizure mice is more sensitive to discharge by electric current, and second, seizure spread is more easily evoked in these mice. Furthermore, maximal audiogenic-seizure (F-MS and 0-MS) mice differ in at least two ways from non-susceptible (F-NS, 0-NS, and CF #l) mice. First, maximal audiogenic-seizure mice are more susceptible to supramaximal electroshock than non-susceptible mice, and second, maximal audiogenic-seizure mice respond to supramaximal electroshock with a more severe seizure than non-susceptible mice. Maximal audiogenic seizures are more severe in F-MS mice than in 0-MS animals. Plasma potassium levels are higher in 0-MS mice than in 0-NS or CF #1 mice. Finally, the ability of sound to induce a seizure in F-MS and not in F-NS mice is best explained by the lower thyroid activity of the F-NS mice, but decreased thyroid activity cannot explain the genetic difference in audiogenic-seizure susceptibility between Frings and CF #1 mice. |