The effect of electroconvulsive seizure on the brain development of neonatal rats
Tatsuno, M.; Sunaga, S.
No to Hattatsu 18(3): 207-211
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0831 PMID: 3707767 Document Number: 278218
Effects of electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) on the brain growth were studied using neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. In order to eliminate the effects of nutritional factors, 3-day-old rats were subjected to insertion of intragastric canules, through which they received a milk formula for 7 days. Rats were divided into the ECS group and the control group. The ECS group received two supramaximal ECS per day for 7 days, and the control group was handled in a similar way but did not receive ECS. At the age of 10 days, no difference in body weight was seen between control and ECS groups. In the ECS group, we found a significant reduction in cerebral (-9.8%, P < 0.05) and cerebellar weight (-17.0%, P < 0.01) compared to those in the control group. in cerebellum, the ECS group showed significant reduction in the level of DNA (-26.5%, P < 0.01). Also there was a slight reduction in contents of protein, RNA and cholesterol, but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Our data suggest that ECS resulted mainly in a reduction of prolification of cerebellar cells.