Behavioral and EEG effects of GABAergic manipulation of the nigrotectal pathway in the Wistar audiogenic rat strain

Author(s)

Rossetti, Franco ^{[1, 2]} ; Araujo Rodrigues, Marcelo Cairrao ^{[3, 1]} ; Cortes de Oliveira, Jose Antonio ^[1] ; Garcia-Cairasco, Norberto ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Sch Med, Dept Physiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Sch Med, Neurosci & Behav Sci Dept, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Pernambuco, Dept Physiol & Pharmacol, Recife, PE - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Epilepsy & Behavior; v. 22, n. 2, p. 191-199, OCT 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

The superior colliculus (SC), substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNPr), and striatum have been characterized as important structures involved in the modulation of seizure activity. In the current study, bicuculline (GABA(A) antagonist) and muscimol (GABA(A) agonist) were microinjected into the deep layers of either the anterior SC (aSC) or posterior SC (pSC) of genetically developed Wistar audiogenic rats. Behavior and EEG activity were studied simultaneously. Only muscimol microinjected into the pSC had behavioral and EEG anticonvulsant effects in Wistar audiogenic rats, eliciting EEG oscillation changes in both SNPr and pSC, primarily during tonic seizures. The SC of Wistar audiogenic rats thus comprises two functionally different subregions, pSC and aSC, defined by distinct behavioral and EEG features. The pSC has proconvulsant audiogenic seizure activity in Wistar audiogenic rats. Our data suggest that this phenomenon may be a consequence of the genetic selection of the Wistar audiogenic rat strain. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 05/56447-7 - Research through images from high field magnetic resonance aimed at studies in humans
• Grantee: João Pereira Leite
• Support Opportunities: Inter-institutional Cooperation in Support of Brain Research (CINAPCE) - Thematic Grants