Aims: 

Seizures are associated with marked autonomic changes during ictal and interictal states, while recently performed studies have demonstrated changes in cardiovascular function during and immediately following the onset of a seizure in experimental animals and in humans with various forms of epilepsy, but yet these issues have not been definitively answered to date. The objective of the present study was to determine specific EKG and EEG correlates of tonic sound-induced seizures in metaphit (1-[1(3 isothiocyanatophenyl)-cyclohexyl]-piperidine) – treated rats.

Methods: 

Male Wistar albino rats with three recording electrodes implanted over the skull were randomly divided into the following groups: 1. saline-treated control group (n = 6) and 2. metaphit-injected experimental group (n = 8). Following the treatment, rats were exposed to an intense sound stimulation (110 ± 3 dB, 3-5 kHz, 60s) at hourly intervals during the experiment and EEG and EKG monitoring have been performed during the seizure events. Recorded tracings of tonic seizures were retrospectively analysed.

Results: 

Bursts of multiple high-voltage spikes and spike-wave complexes were recorded in EEG during tonic seizures in metaphit-treated rats. Ictal events in metaphit-treated rats were accompanied by EKG changes. Sinus tachycardia and falling ST depression were noted in all recorded ictal EKG tracings. No changes in EEG and EKG were noted in control animals during entire experiment.

Conclusion: 

These findings indicate that metaphit model of epilepsy could be a suitable model for studying cardiovascular manifestations of generalized seizures.