Seizures and Hypoxia in Juvenile Rats

Abstract

A short period of cerebral hypoxia can have grave, long-term effects on brain function. Seizures in adult rats cause severe, long-lasting cerebral hypoxia and acetaminophen effectively reduces the degree of hypoxia. The present study investigated the phenomenon of post-seizure hypoxia in the hippocampus of juvenile rats. Results confirmed the presence of post-seizure hypoxia in young rats while acetaminophen pre-treatment prevented this effect. In addition, the consequence of a neonatal seizure on the motor behaviour of juvenile rats was also studied. A single neonatal seizure significantly impaired performance on the rotarod task whereas pre-treatment with acetaminophen improved it. Finally, treatment with acetaminophen prior to neonatal seizures was associated a less severe hypoxic event in adult rats as compared to neonates who did not receive it. This research leads to a better understanding of how seizures alter neurological function in the developing brain and how they cause the resulting neuronal injury.