Circadian distribution of generalized tonic-clonic seizures associated with murine succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, a disorder of GABA metabolism.

Abstract

Human succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder of GABA metabolism associated with motor impairment and epileptic seizures. Similarly, mice with targeted deletion of the Aldh5a1 gene (Aldh5a1(-/-)) exhibit SSADH deficiency and seizures early in life. These seizures begin as absence seizures the second week of life, but evolve into generalized convulsive seizures that increase in severity and become lethal during the fourth postnatal week. The seizures are alleviated and survival is prolonged when the mutant animals are weaned onto a ketogenic diet (KD). The persistence of spontaneous, recurrent, generalized tonic-clonic seizures in KD-treated adult Aldh5a1(-/-) mice allowed us to quantify their daily (circadian) distribution using a novel behavioral method based on the detection of changes in movement velocity. Adult KD-treated Aldh5a1(-/-) mice exhibited a seizure phenotype characterized by fits of wild running clonus accompanied by jumping and bouncing. These hypermotor seizures were largely spontaneous and occurred daily in a nonrandom pattern. The seizure rhythm showed a peak shortly after dark phase onset (2008 hours) with near-24-hour periodicity. Age-matched wild-type littermates showed no evidence of abnormal motor behavior. These new data suggest that generalized tonic-clonic seizures in Aldh5a1(-/-) mice are more frequent during a specific time of day and will provide useful information to clinicians for the treatment of seizures associated with human SSADH deficiency.

• Authors: Lee S Stewart, Kirk J Nylen, Michael A Persinger, Miguel A Cortez, K Michael Gibson, O Carter Snead 3rd
• Journal: Epilepsy & behavior : E&B (Epilepsy Behav) Vol. 13 Issue 2 Pg. 290-4 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 1525-5069 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18514581 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• Aldh5a1 protein, mouse
• Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase

Topics

• Age Factors
• Animals
• Brain (physiopathology)
• Circadian Rhythm (physiology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic (genetics, physiopathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred Strains
• Mice, Mutant Strains
• Motor Activity (physiology)
• Phenotype
• Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase (deficiency, genetics)
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (metabolism)