A potential model of pediatric posttraumatic epilepsy

Abstract

Preclinical models of pediatric posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) are lacking. We hypothesized that traumatic brain injury (TBI), induced by controlled cortical impact, in immature rats would cause electroencephalographic (EEG) epileptiform activity and behavioral seizures. TBI or sham craniotomy was performed on postnatal day 17. Using video-EEG monitoring 4-11 months post-TBI, most TBI rats (87.5%) showed EEG spiking and one had spontaneous, recurrent seizures. Controls showed neither EEG spikes nor electrographic/behavioral seizures. Late seizures were rare after TBI, but EEG spiking was common and may represent a surrogate for PTE.

Figure 1. Posttraumatic EEG spikes and seizures

Representative records of EEG spikes and seizures. The numbers above each time-compressed signal correspond with time-expanded segments beneath. (A) EEG spiking in a TBI rat without detected convulsive seizures. Spike morphology was similar for TBI rats with and without seizures. (B) EEG seizure from the rat with recurrent, spontaneous posttraumatic seizures. Generalized clonic motor activity (Racine class 4-5) accompanied this EEG seizure.