Behavioral changes following a single episode of early-life seizures support the latent development of an autistic phenotype

Epilepsy Behav. 2015 Mar:44:78-85. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.01.006. Epub 2015 Feb 4.

Abstract

We probed the developmental and behavioral consequences of a single episode of kainic acid-induced early-life seizures (KA-ELS) in the rat on postnatal day 7. Correlates of developmental trajectory were not altered, demonstrating that long-term consequences following KA-ELS are not initiated by secondary causes, such as malnourishment or alterations in maternal care. We report reduced marble burying in adult rats, suggestive of restricted interests, a trait common to experimental and clinical autism. We did not detect increased repetitive grooming during habituated cage behavior. However, we did detect reduced grooming in adult KA-ELS rats in the presence of an unfamiliar rat, supporting altered social anxiety following KA-ELS. Reanalysis of a social approach task further indicated abnormal social interactions. Taken together with previous physiological and behavioral data, these data support the hypothesis that KA-ELS lead to a latent autistic phenotype in adult rats not attributable to other early alterations in development.

Keywords: Autism; Development; Early-life seizure; Grooming; Marble burying; Repetitive behaviors; Restricted interest; Social approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Autistic Disorder / etiology*
  • Autistic Disorder / physiopathology
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / toxicity
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Kainic Acid / toxicity
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / complications*
  • Social Behavior*

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
  • Kainic Acid