Scotti A L, Bollag O, Nitsch C
Section of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Basel University, Switzerland.
Epilepsia. 1998 Jun;39(6):567-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01423.x.
Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) seize in response to sensory stimulation and forced exploratory behavior, but the incidence and severity of their seizures are variable. We wished to characterize the seizure pattern of gerbils from our breeding colony.
Ninety-three gerbils aged 1-16 months were tested for a mean of 24 consecutive weeks and assigned to a category according to their seizure pattern. Frequency distribution histograms of the mean scores assigned every 5 weeks were plotted for each category. Mean age, number of seizures, onset of the first facial and forelimb myoclonus, and of the first generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) were compared among categories. We performed correlation analysis between onset of seizures and animal age.
From the 93 tested, no seizure-resistant gerbils could be isolated. Four major categories were distinguished. Category 1, highly seizure-sensitive gerbils (39%), exhibited seizures from the first few weeks of test on. Category 2, consisting of approximately 37%, were seizure-free for the first three to six consecutive tests, later developing facial and forelimb myoclonus and eventually GTCS. Because such progressive development of seizures was similar to that occurring upon electrical kindling, the gerbils were classified as kindled-like (KL). Among KL gerbils, older individuals were significantly more refractory to seizures. In category 3, gerbils (10%) exhibited inconsistent seizure behavior. Category 4 consisted of significantly younger animals (11%) with rapid progress to generalized seizures.
Seizures of progressive severity can be induced in adult gerbils with a prolonged test regimen. As a consequence, the number of regularly seizing gerbils in a colony can be increased. Prolonged tests starting at a defined age may help characterize seizure development better in this genetic model of limbic epilepsy.
蒙古沙鼠（长爪沙鼠）会因感觉刺激和强迫性探索行为而发作，但它们发作的发生率和严重程度各不相同。我们希望描述来自我们繁殖群体的沙鼠的发作模式。
对93只1至16个月大的沙鼠进行了平均连续24周的测试，并根据它们的发作模式将其分为不同类别。为每个类别绘制每5周分配的平均分数的频率分布直方图。比较了各类别之间的平均年龄、发作次数、首次面部和前肢肌阵挛的发作时间以及首次全身性强直-阵挛发作（GTCS）的发作时间。我们对发作开始时间与动物年龄之间进行了相关性分析。
在93只受试沙鼠中，未分离出抗癫痫发作的沙鼠。区分出了四个主要类别。第1类，高度癫痫敏感的沙鼠（39%），从测试的最初几周就开始发作。第2类，约占37%，在连续的前三次至六次测试中无发作，随后出现面部和前肢肌阵挛，最终发展为GTCS。由于这种发作的渐进性发展与电点燃时发生的情况相似，这些沙鼠被归类为点燃样（KL）。在KL沙鼠中，年龄较大的个体对发作的耐受性明显更高。在第3类中，沙鼠（10%）表现出不一致的发作行为。第4类由明显更年轻的动物（11%）组成，它们迅速发展为全身性发作。
通过延长测试方案，可以在成年沙鼠中诱发严重程度逐渐增加的发作。因此，可以增加群体中定期发作的沙鼠数量。从特定年龄开始的延长测试可能有助于在这种边缘性癫痫的遗传模型中更好地描述发作的发展情况。
