Abstracts

Rationale: An inbred rat strainWAG/Rij is one of the unique model objects. Congenital form of epilepsy (absence-epilepsy) and depressive-like behavior with decreased level of motor and exploratory activity are characterization for WAG/Rij rat strain. This features makes WAG/Rij rats the unique model of dual pathology for physiological research. WAG / Rij rats are characterized by a stable spontaneous spike activity. Audiogenic WAG/Rij subpopulation is a good model for study mixed form of epilepsy. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is characterized with generalized spontaneously occurring wave peak level (7-9 Hz) as for EEG with absence epilepsy. A typical spike activity as well as comorbid behavioral disorders (anhedonia, increased depression, etc.) appear only on the 5-6 month of life. There is no data about presence of pathological, including behavioral changes in early age. Methods: The purpose of the present work was to study the behavioral characteristics of WAG / Rij rat strain in the first and second months of postnatal development and also identify predisposition to disease in early age. We used 56 the control outbred rats (5 litters) and 84WAG / Rij rats (7 litters). The offspring was conduct a standardized neurological and behavioral tests to evaluate the development of the central nervous system, motor and orienting activity, physical development, anxiety and depression, as well as social behavior, learning ability and sensitivity to pain.Results: Our results show that WAG / Rij rats comparing to control have delayed psychomotor and physical development, increased anxiety and depression, reduced orienting-investigative activity, altered social interactions. Also, WAG / Rij rats have impaired nociception and impaired learning with negative reinforcement. Some data indicates also the presence of stereotyped behavior.Conclusions: According to the results of this work we can assume that development of pathological processes in WAG / Rij rats begins during first month of life. Registered pathological picture is similar in a number of indicators with a picture of violations detected previously in rats with autistic-like disorders. The investigation of WAGR/Rij rats pathological condition is very important because it may help find ways to treat epilepsy and depression in humans.