Study of epileptiform activity in cerebral ganglion of mud crab Scylla serrata

Abstract

An attempt is made to induce in mud crab (Scylla serrata) epileptiform activities that resemble the generalized epileptic seizures. Cerebral ganglion of crab was exposed in situ, to a convulsant drug pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) 100 mM, for induction of seizures. Also, crabs were pretreated with antiepileptic drug viz sodium valproate (120 μmol/l) to inhibit epileptiform activities. The surface electrical discharges of cerebral ganglion were recorded using Unkelscope (MIT, USA) in control as well as experimental animals. The cerebral ganglion of crab showed a pattern of high cerebral electrical discharges after PTZ treatment compared to control. The sodium valproate promoted sedative action in control and prevented PTZ-mediated epileptiform discharges. Glutamate and GABA contents in cerebral ganglion were assayed. Glutamate level increased (31.45%) during PTZ treatment with concomitant decrease (43.93%) in GABA. Sodium valproate had no effect on glutamate concentration, but it decreased GABA by 24.75%. The present study shows that epileptiform activities can be induced in crabs.

Impacts of Habitat Quality on the Physiology, Ecology, and Economical Value of Mud Crab Scylla sp.: A Comprehensive Review

“…Similarly, sodium valproate decreases GABA concentration and does not affect glutamate levels. Thus, epileptic seizures are inducible by administrating convulsant drugs in cerebral ganglion in S. serrata [156]. The possibility of bioaccumulation of these drugs rises during drought conditions.…”

Pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure-like behavior and neural hyperactivity in the medicinal leech

“…Invertebrates, by virtue of their relatively small, well-understood nervous systems and/or easy-to-manipulate genomes, have a demonstrable role in elucidating the fundamental mechanisms mediating both normal function and functional disorders of the nervous system. Examples of the latter include studies of neurodegenerative disease, spinal muscular atrophy, addiction, pain, as well as seizures (Cymbalyuk et al 2002;Walters and Moroz 2009;Grice et al 2011;Parker et al 2011;Therisa and Desai 2011;Im and Galko 2012;Giachello et al 2013;Li and Le 2013;Scholz and Mustard 2013;Sovik and Barron 2013). Although there can be significant differences between vertebrates and invertebrates in terms of molecules that mediate nervous system function, even these differences can be an advantage.…”

“…-free saline, were effective at eliciting in vitro hyperactivity. PTZ has also been effectively used to elicit bursting activity in other invertebrates such as the mud crab, Scylla serrata (140 lM), and snail Helix aspersa (10-40 mM) (Therisa and Desai 2011;Giachello et al 2013). The leech CNS has had no obvious effect on activity relative to the normal saline control group.…”