Preliminary report on the magnesium deficient rat as a model of epilepsy

Lab Anim Sci. 1978 Dec;28(6):680-5.

Abstract

Weanling male rats fed a low magnesium diet for 14 days were protected from audiogenic seizures by administration of phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin. Amphetamine, levo-dopa, and magnesium chloride injected 45 minutes prior to testing did not prevent the seizures. In contrast to weanling male rats which became mortally seizure prone, 3--5 week-old female rats fed a low magnesium diet for 17--21 days varied as to their susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. If thrown into seizures by a loud noise, the females frequently could be revived for subsequent testing, thus affording the opportunity to design experiments using fewer animals.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Epilepsy / etiology*
  • Epilepsy / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Magnesium Deficiency / complications*
  • Male
  • Phenobarbital / therapeutic use
  • Phenytoin / therapeutic use
  • Rats*
  • Rodent Diseases / etiology*
  • Rodent Diseases / prevention & control
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Phenytoin
  • Phenobarbital