Respiratory activity during seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole

This study investigated the respiratory activity in adult Wistar rats across different behavioral seizure severity induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Animals underwent surgery for electrodes implantation, allowing simultaneous EEG and diaphragm EMG (DIA(EMG)) recordings and the respiratory frequency and DIA(EMG) amplitude were measured. Seizures were acutely induced through PTZ injection and classified based on a pre-established score, with absence-like seizures (spike wave discharge (SWD) events on EEG) representing the lowest score. The respiratory activity was grouped into the different seizure severities. During absence-like and myoclonic jerk seizures, the breathing frequency decreased significantly (similar to 50% decrease) compared to pre- and post-ictal periods. Pronounced changes occurred with more severe seizures (clonic and tonic) with periods of apnea, especially during tonic seizures. Apnea duration was significantly higher in tonic compared to clonic seizures. Notably, during PTZ-induced tonic seizures the apnea events were marked by tonic DIA(EMG) contraction (tonic-phase apnea). In the majority of animals (5 out of 7) this was a fatal event in which the seizure-induced respiratory arrest preceded the asystole. In conclusion, we provide an assessment of the respiratory activity in the PTZ-induced acute seizures and showed that breathing dysfunction is more pronounced in seizures with higher severity.