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Seizure Research





A seizure is an episode of increased or irregular electrical activity
in the brain that can present as a single event or exhibit recurrent characteristics (epilepsy). There is currently no cure for seizure
disorders and animal models remain vital to increase our
understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms
and in new treatment development.





Common Causes of Seizures

  • Epilepsy
  • High fever
  • Hyposomnia
  • Hyponatremia 
  • Medications
  • Traumatic Brain Injury or Head Trauma
  • Stroke
  • Brain Tumor
  • Illegal or Recreational Drug Use
  • Alcohol Abuse or Withdrawal


Seizure_Blue






Commonly Used Species in Seizure Research





Mouse Silhouette

Mice




rat 

Rats


Guinea Pig

Guinea Pigs

dog

Canines

non-human primate

Nonhuman Primates

We have created this table of seizure models to provide you with more information regarding the various species, EEG placement, and applications that have been studied in seizure research.





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In Vivo Research Approaches in the Study of Neurological Disease and Psychiatric Disorders

This paper provides researchers with the following information:
a) a summary of the most commonly researched neurological disease and
psychiatric disorders
b) observations regarding in vivo physiologic endpoints of interest
c) the products used to collect these endpoints.



CNS, Neuroscience, Preclinical Neuroscience, Animal models of neuroscience, CNS animal models




View our highlighted publications to learn how researchers are using DSI solutions to get confident results in their seizure studies





DSI Solutions are Trusted by Seizure Researchers Get Meaningful Answers Out of Their Studies

Seizure detection is collected by quantitative EEG and qualitative behavioral scoring. Because seizures can occur due to a variety of causes or lead to complications in other organ systems, additional endpoints are of interest to researchers for a more holistic view. DSI provides a wide range of validated seizure solutions to fit researcher needs during the many stages of their research.

Click on a research area below to learn more about endpoints of interest collected in seizures studies.












Electrophysiology

In vivo electrophysiological recordings, mainly electroencephalograms (EEG), are invaluable in the diagnosis of seizures in preclinical and clinical settings. EEGs are highly translatable and provide information about electrical activity of animal or human brains during and in the absence of seizures. When EEGs are combined with video monitoring, this powerful multimodal approach adds validity to studies through synchronized recording of brain activity and behavior analysis for seizure confirmation and observation of therapeutic effects. 


Common Endpoints


Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Video-EEG

Electromyogram (EMG)

Stimulation

Optogentics

In vitro - Extracellular Field and Action Potential

In vitro - Ion Selectivity


*In Vitro solutions are available from our Harvard Bioscience sister brands Multichannel Systems and Heka Elektronik. Reach out to us to learn more about how to incorporate these solutions into your current research set-up.

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Google Scholar Indexes 329 Publications Citing DSI, Seizure and EEG








Behavior

Common behavioral responses observed during a seizure include freezing or shift of attention, loss of consciousness, and violent or rhythmic muscle contractions. Researchers use many different behavioral assays to study changes during seizure activity as well as the effects of repetitive seizures in epileptic disorders. Video tracking and monitoring can be combined with EEG tracing to provide the most accurate picture of seizure activity in animal models.  


Common Endpoints


Locomotor Activity

Motor Coordination

Circadian Tasks

Working and Spatial Memory

Anxiety

Nest-building and Burrowing Behavior

Grip Strength

Fear Conditioning



*Behavioral solutions are available from our Harvard Bioscience sister brands Panlab and Coulbourn Instruments. Reach out to us to learn more about how to incorporate these solutions into your current research set-up.

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Google Scholar Indexes 230 Publications Citing DSI, Seizure and Video
Google Scholar Indexes 498 Publications Citing Panlab and Seizure
Google Scholar Indexes 711 Publications Citing Coulbourn and Seizure








Cardiovascular

Seizures are known to cause autonomic dysfunction, contributing to possible conduction disturbances within the heart. This can lead to a higher risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy through changes in heart rate variability,  increases in QT interval, and arrhythmias that can occur before, during, or after a seizure. 


Common Endpoints


Mean Arterial Pressure

Heart Rate

Pulmonary Blood Pressure

Electrocardiogram



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Google Scholar Indexes 152 Publications Citing DSI, Seizure and Cardiovascular








Respiratory

Complications in respiratory function are commonly observed prior to and during seizure events. These include changes in respiratory rate, respiratory pausing, hypercapnia, hypoxemia, and aspirations. While most seizures don't lead to respiratory complications, SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) is linked to low oxygen levels that occur due to seizure activity. Tonic-clonic, uncontrolled and night time seizures increases a persons risk of SUDEP. Researchers will commonly combine respiratory monitoring with electrophysiology in their seizure studies to improve acute treatment outcomes. 


Common Endpoints


Breathing Frequency

Inspiratory and Expiratory Duration

Peak Airflow Rates

Specific Airway Resistance

Volume and Functional Residual Capacity

Respiratory Muscle Function

SaO2


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Google Scholar Indexes 90 Publications Citing Buxco and Seizure








Metabolism

Hyperthermia has been shown to affect temperature sensitive ion channels, increasing excitability within the brain which can trigger seizure activity. The most common causes of seizures associated with increases in core body temperature are febrile seizures and exposure to high temperature conditions, such as heat stroke.


Common Endpoints


Core Body Temperature

Localized Temperature

Ambient Temperature

Activity

  

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Google Scholar Indexes 355 Publications Citing DSI, Seizure and Temperature








Glucose

Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia can trigger seizures, particularly in diabetic patients with uncontrolled glucose levels caused by insulin errors, illness or altered metabolic states. Chronic glucose monitoring in seizure models can provide a better understanding of how alterations in glucose metabolism affects the electrical activity in the brain.


Common Endpoints


Activity

Blood Glucose

Temperature

 

  

Google Scholar Indexes 154 Publications Citing DSI, Seizure and Glucose



Highlighted Publications


Authier, S., Paquette, D., Gauvin, D., Sammut, V., Fournier, S., Chaurand, F., & Troncy, E. (2009). Video-electroencephalography in conscious non human primate using radiotelemetry and computerized analysis: refinement of a safety pharmacology model. Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods, 60(1), 88-93.


Bassett, L., Troncy, E., Pouliot, M., Paquette, D., Ascah, A., & Authier, S. (2014). Telemetry video-electroencephalography (EEG) in rats, dogs and non-human primates: methods in follow-up safety pharmacology seizure liability assessments. Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, 70(3), 230-240.

Cho, K. O., & Jang, H. J. (2020). Comparison of different input modalities and network structures for deep learning-based seizure detection. Scientific reports, 10(1), 1-11.

Cho, K. O., Lybrand, Z. R., Ito, N., Brulet, R., Tafacory, F., Zhang, L., ... & Scharfman, H. E. (2015). Aberrant hippocampal neurogenesis contributes to epilepsy and associated cognitive decline. Nature communications, 6(1), 1-13.

Colasante, G., Lignani, G., Brusco, S., Di Berardino, C., Carpenter, J., Giannelli, S., ... & Marenna, S. (2020). dCas9-based Scn1a gene activation restores inhibitory interneuron excitability and attenuates seizures in Dravet syndrome mice. Molecular Therapy, 28(1), 235-253.

Deshpande, T., Li, T., Henning, L., Wu, Z., Müller, J., Seifert, G., ... & Bedner, P. (2020). Constitutive deletion of astrocytic connexins aggravates kainate‐induced epilepsy. Glia.

Dubé, C. M., Molet, J., Singh-Taylor, A., Ivy, A., Maras, P. M., & Baram, T. Z. (2015). Hyper-excitability and epilepsy generated by chronic early-life stress. Neurobiology of stress, 2, 10-19.

Dürmüller, N., Guillaume, P., Lacroix, P., Porsolt, R. D., & Moser, P. (2007). The use of the dog electroencephalogram (EEG) in safety pharmacology to evaluate proconvulsant risk. Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods, 56(2), 234-238.

Fisher, N. M., Gould, R. W., Gogliotti, R. G., McDonald, A. J., Badivuku, H., Chennareddy, S., ... & Lindsley, C. W. (2020). Phenotypic profiling of mGlu7 knockout mice reveals new implications for neurodevelopmental disorders. Genes, Brain and Behavior.

Gage, M., Golden, M., Putra, M., Sharma, S., & Thippeswamy, T. (2020). Sex as a biological variable in the rat model of diisopropylfluorophosphate‐induced long‐term neurotoxicity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Joosen, M. J., Smit, A. B., & van Helden, H. P. (2011). Treatment efficacy in a soman-poisoned guinea pig model: added value of physostigmine?. Archives of toxicology, 85(3), 227-237.

Kim, H. Y., Yang, Y. R., Hwang, H., Lee, H. E., Jang, H. J., Kim, J., ... & Kim, J. I. (2019). Deletion of PLCγ1 in GABAergic neurons increases seizure susceptibility in aged mice. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-15.

Krook-Magnuson, E., Armstrong, C., Oijala, M., & Soltesz, I. (2013). On-demand optogenetic control of spontaneous seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy. Nature communications, 4(1), 1-8.

Loughman, A., Bowden, S. C., & D'Souza, W. J. (2017). Self and informant report ratings of psychopathology in genetic generalized epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior, 67, 13-19.

Löscher, W. (2011). Critical review of current animal models of seizures and epilepsy used in the discovery and development of new antiepileptic drugs. Seizure, 20(5), 359-368.

Lumley, L. A., Rossetti, F., de Araujo Furtado, M., Marrero-Rosado, B., Schultz, C. R., Schultz, M. K., ... & Wasterlain, C. G. (2019). Dataset of EEG power integral, spontaneous recurrent seizure and behavioral responses following combination drug therapy in soman-exposed rats. Data in brief, 27, 104629.

Möller, C., van Dijk, R. M., Wolf, F., Keck, M., Schönhoff, K., Bierling, V., & Potschka, H. (2019). Impact of repeated kindled seizures on heart rate rhythms, heart rate variability, and locomotor activity in rats. Epilepsy & Behavior, 92, 36-44.
 
Nersesyan, H., Hyder, F., Rothman, D. L., & Blumenfeld, H. (2004). Dynamic fMRI and EEG recordings during spike-wave seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in WAG/Rij rats. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 24(6), 589-599.

Niquet, J., Lumley, L., Baldwin, R., Rossetti, F., Suchomelova, L., Naylor, D., ... & Wasterlain, C. G. (2020). Rational polytherapy in the treatment of cholinergic seizures. Neurobiology of disease, 133, 104537.

Schilling, W. P., McGrath, M. K., Yang, T., Glazebrook, P. A., Faingold, C. L., & Kunze, D. L. (2019). Simultaneous cardiac and respiratory inhibition during seizure precedes death in the DBA/1 audiogenic mouse model of SUDEP. PloS one, 14(10), e0223468.

Trosclair, K., Dhaibar, H. A., Gautier, N. M., Mishra, V., & Glasscock, E. (2020). Neuron-specific Kv1. 1 deficiency is sufficient to cause epilepsy, premature death, and cardiorespiratory dysregulation. Neurobiology of Disease, 137, 104759.

Tse, K., Puttachary, S., Beamer, E., Sills, G. J., & Thippeswamy, T. (2014). Advantages of repeated low dose against single high dose of kainate in C57BL/6J mouse model of status epilepticus: behavioral and electroencephalographic studies. PloS one, 9(5), e96622.

Weiergräber, M., Henry, M., Hescheler, J., Smyth, N., & Schneider, T. (2005). Electrocorticographic and deep intracerebral EEG recording in mice using a telemetry system. Brain research protocols, 14(3), 154-164.
 
White, A. R., Tiwari, D., MacLeod, M. C., Danzer, S. C., & Gross, C. (2020). PI3K isoform-selective inhibition in neuron-specific PTEN-deficient mice rescues molecular defects and reduces epilepsy-associated phenotypes. Neurobiology of Disease, 144, 105026.