Penicillin-induced epileptiform activity elevates focal brain temperature in anesthetized rats

• Published in: Neuroscience research 2013-08, Vol.76 (4), p.257-260
• Main Authors: Tokiwa, Tatsuji, Inoue, Takao, Fujii, Masami, Ishizuka, Satoru, Aou, Shuji, Kida, Hiroyuki, Maruta, Yuichi, Yamakawa, Toshitaka, Nomura, Sadahiro, Suzuki, Michiyasu, Yamakawa, Takeshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Behavioral seizures; Brain - physiopathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Disease Models, Animal; Electroencephalography - methods; Epilepsy - chemically induced; Epilepsy - physiopathology; Epileptiform discharges; Focal brain temperature; Male; Penicillin G; Penicillins - toxicity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sensorimotor cortex; Temperature; Thermocouple
• ISSN: 0168-0102; 1872-8111
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2013.05.001

•To record the focal brain temperature, a T-type thermocouple (Ø 0.1) was used.•Focal brain temperature increased by 0.91±0.38°C along with epileptiform activity.•BS suppression by deepening the anesthesia level led to the temperature decrease. To elucidate a relationship between changes in focal brain temperature and severity of abnormal brain activity, epileptiform discharges and behavioral seizures were induced by Penicillin G in anesthetized rats, and focal brain-temperature was measured. Penicillin G was injected into the right primary sensorimotor cortex (400IU/μl). After the injection, epileptiform discharges induced a temperature increase gradually by 0.65±0.24°C. Moreover, when behavioral seizures were induced by reducing the anesthesia level, the temperature was raised by 0.26±0.22°C. These results suggest that elevation of the focal brain temperature is associated with the severity of epileptic activity.