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Evaluation of local cerebral glucose utilization and the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in the genetically epilepsy-prone rat

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Summary

The genetically epileptic-prone rat (GEPR) is a valuable model for the study of gene-linked abnormalities involved in epilepsy. In comparison with normal Sprague-Dawley controls, we found, in GEPRs, a marked depression in local cerebral glucose utilization, widespread throughout the brain. This depression was accompanied by a significant increase of blood-brain barrier permeability and a reduction in regional blood volume. Finally GEPRs showed lower plasma levels of total triiodothyronine than normal controls. One can speculate that alterations in cerebral metabolism and microvascular regulation and thyroid hormone imbalance may be gene-linked factors involved in seizure susceptibility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Farmaco-Biologico, School of Pharmacy, University of Messina, Contrada Annunziata, I-98168, Messina, Italy

    A. Saija & R. De Pasquale

  2. Centro di Informazioni Farmaco-Tossicologiche, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Contrada Annunziata, I-98168, Messina, Italy

    P. Princi

  3. Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Contrada Annunziata, I-98168, Messina, Italy

    G. Costa

  4. Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Reggio Calabria, I-88100, Catanzaro, Italy

    G. B. De Sarro

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  1. A. Saija
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  4. G. Costa
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  5. G. B. De Sarro
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Saija, A., Princi, P., De Pasquale, R. et al. Evaluation of local cerebral glucose utilization and the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in the genetically epilepsy-prone rat. Exp Brain Res 88, 151–157 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02259136

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02259136

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