Hyperbaric oxygen-induced seizures cause a transient decrement in cognitive function

L. Domachevsky*, L. Rachmany, Y. Barak, V. Rubovitch, A. Abramovich, C. G. Pick

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hyperbaric oxygen-induced seizures are classified as brief, generalized tonic-clonic seizures. They are believed to cause no residual cognitive damage, although this has not been investigated in depth. In the present study, we examined whether hyperbaric oxygen-induced seizures cause impairment of behavioral and cognitive abilities. Cognitive status was assessed using four behavioral tests: Y-maze, novel object recognition, the elevated plus maze, and a passive avoidance task. Three time intervals were examined: 24. h, and 7 and 30. days after the seizures. We found transient impairment of performance in the compressed group on three tests (the novel object recognition paradigm, the Y-maze paradigm, and the passive avoidance task). On the elevated plus maze test, the impairment persisted. The time interval to the appearance of deficits and to eventual recovery was not the same for the different tests. We conclude that hyperbaric oxygen-induced seizures result in transient impairment of performance on behavioral tests in a mouse model. Further investigation is required to establish the mechanism and location of injury, and to determine whether the performance decrement on the elevated plus maze test represents permanent damage or transient damage with slow resolution. These new findings should be taken into account when planning hyperbaric oxygen treatments, to ensure that the chosen protocol is therapeutic yet minimizes the risk of CNS oxygen toxicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)328-334
Number of pages7
JournalNeuroscience
Volume247
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Sep 2013

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps

    Keywords

    • Behavioral tests
    • Convulsions
    • Neurologic damage
    • Oxygen toxicity

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Hyperbaric oxygen-induced seizures cause a transient decrement in cognitive function'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this