Audiogenic priming in DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice: interactions among age, prime-to-test interval and index of seizure.

C57BL/6J mice, not susceptible to audiogenic seizures (AGS) on the 1st exposure to an acoustic stimulus, were exposed to the acoustic stimulus for 1 min and then tested at some later date (acoustic priming). They were first exposed at either 8, 16, 19, 22, or 28 days of age, and then tested for AGS 2-16 days after priming. DBA/2J mice, susceptible to AGS on the 1st exposure to intense noise, were exposed to the acoustic stimulus at 26 days of age, and then again 2-14 days later. Data indicate that the incidence of AGS upon the 2nd exposure to the acoustic stimulus is a function of age at priming, the prime-to-test interval in days, and the index of seizures. In the case of DBA mice, later effects are also dependent on the initial level of seizure.