HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Environmental enrichment improves behavioral outcome in the AY-9944 model of childhood atypical absence epilepsy.

Abstract
Atypical absence seizures are drug resistant in the majority of children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and herald a poor neurodevelopmental outcome. Here we studied the effects of environmental enrichment, enriched housing conditions designed to stimulate sensory and motor systems in the brain, on behavioral outcome in mice treated with the cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor AY-9944 (AY), a clinically relevant model of atypical absence epilepsy. Beginning at postnatal day (P) 2, C3H mice were treated with AY (7.5 mg/kg) every 6 days until P20 and then weaned into enriched or standard cages. After 30 days (∼P50), AY mice from the enriched housing condition exhibited less behavioral hyperactivity and anxiety, improved olfactory recognition, and spatial learning, but no significant reduction in the number of ictal discharges in comparison with their non-enriched cohorts. The beneficial effects of environmental enrichment in AY model were in some behavioral tests gender-specific in favor of males suggesting that other, possibly hormonally mediated mechanisms, may interact with the therapeutic effects of enrichment. Taken together, these data provide a starting point to derive clinical occupational therapies for improving behavioral outcome in cases of intractable childhood seizures.
AuthorsLee S Stewart, Miguel A Cortez, O Carter Snead 3rd
JournalThe International journal of neuroscience (Int J Neurosci) Vol. 122 Issue 8 Pg. 449-57 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1563-5279 [Electronic] England
PMID22471338 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • trans-1,4-Bis(2-chlorobenzaminomethyl)cyclohexane Dihydrochloride
Topics
  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents (toxicity)
  • Anxiety (etiology)
  • Behavior, Animal (drug effects, physiology)
  • Brain Waves (drug effects, physiology)
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroencephalography
  • Environment
  • Epilepsy, Absence (chemically induced, complications, nursing)
  • Exploratory Behavior (drug effects, physiology)
  • Female
  • Male
  • Maze Learning (drug effects, physiology)
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Odorants
  • Pregnancy
  • Recognition, Psychology (drug effects)
  • Smell (drug effects)
  • trans-1,4-Bis(2-chlorobenzaminomethyl)cyclohexane Dihydrochloride (toxicity)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: