Behavioral characteristics of WAG/Rij rats susceptible and non-susceptible to audiogenic seizures.

Some rats of the WAG/Rij (Wistar Albino Glaxo from Rijswijk) and Wistar strain are susceptible for audiogenic (convulsive) seizures. In the present study, behavior of susceptible and non-susceptible rats from the WAG/Rij strain, genetically predisposed to absence epilepsy, and outbred Wistar strain, genetically not predisposed to absence epilepsy, was compared to assess the level of anxiety (in the open field, light-dark choice and elevated plus-maze tests) and the level of depression (in the sucrose consumption and forced swimming tests). Increased level of anxiety was found only in audiogenic susceptible rats both from WAG/Rij and Wistar strain, but increased level of depression was found only in WAG/Rij rats independently of their susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. The results suggest that enhanced level of depression in WAG/Rij strain rats is associated with absence epilepsy but enhanced level of anxiety with susceptibility to audiogenic seizures.