Characteristics of the audiogenic convulsive crisis in mice made sensitive by magnesium deficiency

: Mice of the OF1, C57BL/6, AKR, C3H/He, DBA/2, BALB/C, B6D2F1 and CBA strains are susceptible to audiogenic seizures after 40 or 20 days of acute magnesium deficiency. The duration of the various phases of the audiogenic seizure response (at 100 dBA) (wild running latency period, convulsions latency period and the clonic and tonic convulsions) among these mice was measured. Using the Kruskall-Wallis test, no difference was recorded using these measurements and those obtained for genetically audio-susceptible animals. This shows that acute magnesium deficiency-induced audiogenic seizures develop in exactly the same way as in genetically audio-susceptible animals (21-days-old DBA/2 mice). Lower intensity (60 and 80 dBA) produced only audiogenic seizures in magnesium deficient mice. Repeated auditory stimulation caused an increase in the number of lethal seizures. Sound-induced seizures in magnesium deficient mice provide a sensitive screening test for anti convulsive drug, and for drugs use in magnesium depletion.