Post-Juvenile Brain Development Modulates Seizure Characteristics and Diazepam Efficacy in the Rat Pilocarpine-SE Model

These studies were completed to examine how status epilpeticus seizure characteristics are modulated during post-juvenile brain development. This may determine if postnatal age in rats is a better identifier of stages of post-juvenile brain development. The first study fully detailed the acute discrete seizure phase of the rat pilocarpine-SE model. Results for this study showed that Racine behavioral severity score, spike frequency, and seizure severity during the acute discrete seizure phase change in relation to post-juvenile brain developmental stages. The second study fully detailed early and late patterns of status epilepticus. Results for this study displayed modulation of time in pattern, spike frequency, and relative delta power for seizure pattern during post-juvenile ages. The third study displayed modulation of diazepam efficacy during post-juvenile ages. The data suggest characteristics in the acute discrete seizure pliase, chronic SE phase, and therapeutic window of SE change in relation to age during post-juvenile brain development. This establishes that age is a better estimator of developmental stage than animal bodyweight.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Pharmacology & Toxicology

Year dc:date.available

2005

Author dc:creator

• Holbert, William H., II

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Severn B. Churn

• epilepsy
• seizure
• brain
• status epilepticus
• diazepam
• electroencephalogram
• EEG
• hypoxia
• pilocarpine-SE model
• Medical Pharmacology
• Medical Sciences
• Medicine and Health Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/866

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-1865