Abstract
Hyperthermia-induced seizures were studied in rat pups as a model for febrile convulsions in young children. Sprague-Dawley albino pups were warmed by an infra-red lamp held over a copper-covered lucite chamber. Rectal or rectal plus brain temperatures were monitored with a thermistor or with copper-constantin thermocouples. Two day old pups developed multifocal clonic seizures at 37°C (rectal). Five day old pups showed generalized seizures at about 40.5°C and seven day old pups at 43°C. All these pups survived a brief post-ictal depression. At ten days, only half the pups survived seizures at 44-45°C. At older ages seizurelike activity occurred above 45°C and all animals died. The threshold temperatures for seizures were independent of the rate of temperature rise. Differences between brain and rectal temperatures in immature rats warmed rapidly caused the maturational increase in seizure thresholds, measured by brain temperature, to be less between 2-5 days and more between 5-7 and 7-10 days than measured by the rectal probe. Electroencephalograms recorded in six and ten day old pups confirmed electrocortical seizures at higher temperatures.
Thus, in the albino rat pup, hyperthermia produces seizures with increasing temperature threshold between 2-10 days of age. This result in an animal model suggests that elevated body (brain) temperature alone may cause or contribute to epileptogenesis in the young child. [Supported by grants to DH from NINCDS (NS16256) and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.]
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holtzman, D., Obana, K. & Olson, J. 1580 HYPERTHERMIA-INDUCED SEIZURES IN THE RAT PUP. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 706 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01597
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01597