Scopolamine-induced convulsions in fasted animals after food intake: Sensitivity of C57BL/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats

• Food intake triggers convulsions in antimuscarinic treated fasted mice and rats.
• Seizures in fasted animals may provide insight into the mechanism of eating epilepsy.
• C57BL/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats are sensitive to scopolamine-induced convulsions.
• Differences in susceptibility of C57BL/6J mice to seizures imply contribution of genetic factors.

SummaryFood intake triggers convulsions in fasted BALB/c mice and Wistar albino rats treated with antimuscarinic drugs, scopolamine or atropine. Inbred strain studies have yielded considerable information regarding genetic influences on seizure susceptibility and factors contribute to epileptogenesis in rodents. This study, therefore, investigated sensitivity to antimuscarinic-induced seizures in C57BL/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Food deprivation for 48 h in mice and 52 h in rats did not produce strain differences in body weight loss. Fasted animals treated i.p. with 3 mg/kg scopolamine developed convulsions after food intake. The incidence of convulsions was indifferent in comparison to BALB/c mice and Wistar albino rats. Number of animals developing stage 5 was more and onset of convulsions was longer in C57BL/6J mice than in BALB/c mice. Strain-related differences in sensitivity to seizures in C57BL/6J mice may need further evaluation for investigating genetic influences on scopolamine-induced seizures.