3. Severe hypoglycemia in juvenile diabetic rats: Presence and severity of seizures predictive for mortality

Background It is well accepted that insulin-induced severe hypoglycemia is a major limiting factor in the management of diabetes resulting in brain dysfunction and seizures. However, the effects of the seizures and treatment strategies have yet to be elucidated, particularly in juveniles. Here we establish a model of severe hypoglycemia and seizures in juvenile diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was established in post-weaned 22-day-old rats by streptozotocin (STZ; 80 mg/kg) intraperitoneal (IP) injection. After a week, severe hypoglycemia was induced by insulin IP (15 U/kg) in fasted (14–16 h) diabetic (STZ) and non-diabetic (CON) animals. Experiments were video-monitored and seizures scored to quantify behaviour. Results Seizures occurred in 86% of STZ and 100% of CON rodents that reached hypoglycemia (defined as p n  = 11), mortality: 7.8 ± 2.7 ( n  = 5; p n  = 17), mortality: 4.4 ± 1.2 ( n  = 5; p Conclusions This model of hypoglycemia and seizures in juvenile diabetic rats provides evidence that severe hypoglycemia (