GENETICALLY EPILEPSY-PRONE RODENTS SHOW SOME CHANGES OF ION LEVELS INTHE BRAIN

In the present study the water and ion (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Fe3+, Se4+, Mg2 +, Mn-2, Se4+, Cu2+) content in the brain of genetically epilepsy-pron e rats (GEPRs) and of 21-, 45-, and 60-day-old DBA/2 mice were determi ned, and compared with those measured in normal controls (Sprague-Dawl ey rats and Swiss mice), to verify whether the predisposition to audio genic seizures (AGS) may be partially related to changes in the cerebr al osmotic and ionic state. Our findings clearly evidenziate two point s: a) a more complex shift io brain ionic balance (rather than a pecul iar modification in the concentration of a single ion) seems very like ly involved in AGS susceptibility; b) brain Ca2+ and Se4+ amounts, tog ether with the water content, appear to be really important factors to which a role in abnormal seizure predisposition may be attributed.