Diagnostic principles of immature epileptic (proepileptic) EEG activity in rats with genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy

Abstract

Introduction:Absence epilepsy is a specific neurological disorder characterized by brief episodes of loss of consciousness (absence) accompanied by high-amplitude “spike-wave” discharges in the electroencephalogram (EEG). WAG/Rij rats with a genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy are used as a reliable model of this disease. This model is beneficial for investigating basic mechanisms of absence epilepsy, including the development of spike-wave seizures.Purpose:Establishing diagnostic principles for immature forms of spikewave activity in EEG (so-called proepileptic activity) of WAG/Rij rats.Results:Diagnostic criteria are proposed for proepileptic EEG activity in rats, based on time-frequency analysis with the continuous wavelet transform and skeletons of wavelet surfaces. The algorithm was tested in “epileptic” and “asymptomatic” individuals. Rats with the “epileptic” phenotype demonstrated a decrease in number of proepileptic patterns between 5 and 7 months of age in parallel to an increase in the number of epileptic discharges that might relate to the transformation of proepileptic activity to epileptic. In rats with the “asymptomatic” phenotype, the age-related decline in the number of proepileptic patterns was not accompanied by the occurrence of spike-wave discharges. A decrease in the instantaneous frequency was found in a larger number of proepileptic patterns in “epileptic” WAG/Rij rats as compared to “asymptomatic” individuals.Practical relevance:A similar approach can be used for early diagnosis of absence epilepsy at the preclinical stage in patients with genetic predisposition.