Are Predator smell (TMT)-induced behavioral alterations in rats able to inhibit seizures?

Are Predator smell (TMT)-induced behavioral alterations in rats able to inhibit seizures?:

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the chemical and behavioral effects of 2,5-Dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) after olfactory exposure and to verify their influence in the expression of acute audiogenic seizures in the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR) strain.

Materials and Methods: Protocol 1

TMT gas chromatography was applied to define odor saturation in a chamber to different concentrations, time required for saturation and desaturation, and if saturation was homogeneous. Also, male adult Wistar rats were exposed to saline (SAL) or to different TMT concentrations and their behaviors were evaluated (neuroethology).

Protocol 2

Male adult WARs were exposed for 15 seconds (s) to SAL or TMT, followed by sound stimulation for 1 minute (min) or until tonic-clonic convulsion. Behavioral analysis included: latencies (wild running and tonic-clonic convulsion), seizure severity indexes and neuroethology.

Results

Gas chromatography established a saturation homogeneous to different concentrations of TMT, indicating that saturation and desaturation occurred in 30 min. TMT triggered fear-like or aversion-like reactions associated to reduction in motor activity and in grooming behavior, in the two highest concentrations. Pure TMT presented anticonvulsant properties, such as less severe seizure phenotype, as well as a decrease in tonic-clonic convulsion expression.

Conclusions

TMT elicited fear-like or aversion-like behaviors in Wistar and WAR and can be utilized in a quantifiable and controllable way. Our results suggested possible antagonism between "fear-related” or “aversion-related” and “seizure-related” networks.