Scopolamine-induced convulsions in fasted animals after food intake: Sensitivity of C57BL/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract

Food intake triggers convulsions in fasted BALB/c mice and Wistar, albino rats treated with antimuscarinic drugs, scopolamine or atropine. Inbred strain studies have yielded considerable information regarding genetic influences on seizure susceptibility and factors contribute to epileptogenesis in rodents. This study, therefore, investigated sensitivity to antirnuscarinic-induced seizures in C57BL/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Food deprivation for 48 h in mice and 52 h in rats did not produce strain differences in body weight loss. Fasted animals treated i.p. with 3 mg/kg scopolamine developed convulsions after food intake. The incidence of convulsions was indifferent in comparison to BALB/c mice and Wistar albino rats. Number of animals developing stage 5 was more and onset of convulsions was longer in C57BL/6J mice than in BALB/c mice. Strain-related differences in sensitivity to seizures in C57BL/6J mice may need further evaluation for investigating genetic influences on scopolamine-induced seizures. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.