Physical training does not influence interictal LCMRglu in pilocarpine-treated rats with epilepsy

This study evaluated, using local cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (LCMRglu) in 39 brain regions, whether physical training modifies the functional activity in rats with epilepsy. Most animals present seizures at rest rather than during exercise and LCMRglu was measured during the interictal phase of the chronic period of a pilocarpine model of epilepsy by the [C-14]2-deoxyglucose (2DG) method. Wistar rats were allocated randomly into four groups: control rats (n=6), rats with epilepsy (n=6), trained control rats (n=6), and trained rats with epilepsy (n=6). Trained control rats did not show significant changes in LCMRglu when compared to control rats. LCMRglu was significantly higher in rats with epilepsy in the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus and in the visual cortex compared to control rats. Trained rats with epilepsy presented a higher LCMRglu than rats with epilepsy only in the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex. Increases in LCMRglu were also observed in the inferior colliculus of trained rats with epilepsy when compared to the trained control rats. Taken together, the results suggest that physical training does not influence interictal LCMRglu metabolism in most cerebral regions of rats with epilepsy. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.