Abstracts

To describe how the neural generators of different sleep components affect sleep-related seizure discharge and to show comparisons to autistic spectrum disorders in feline epilepsy models.+ Experimental manipulations of physiological components were conducted in feline epilepsy models (n=86), mostly in the systemic penicillin and amygdala-kindling epilepsy models. The sleep-wake state distribution of seizures was quantified before and after lesions, systemic and localized drug administration and/or photic stimulation as well as in relation to concentrations of norepinephrine (microdialysis). Main findings are: 1) Neural generators of synchronous EEG oscillations, including tonic background slow waves and phasic [ldquo]arousal[rdquo] events (sleep EEG transients such as sleep spindles, k-complexes) can combine to promote EEG seizure propagation during NREM; antigravity muscle tone permits seizure-related movement. 2) Neural generators of asynchronous neuronal discharge patterns can reduce EEG seizures during REM sleep; skeletal motor paralysis blocks seizure-related movement during REM. 3) Several similarities in seizure, autistic and sleep manifestations [amp]/or disorders between amygdala-kindled kittens and LKS are in Table 1. The kindling process is thought to have [ldquo]trans-synaptic[rdquo] effects on cells distal to the kindled focus. Age-related changes in these effects could underlie the simultaneous or sequential onset of various epileptic and non-epileptic symptoms and their clinical course in kindled kittens and LKS.[table1] (Supported by Department of Veterans Affairs.)