Improvement of status epilepticus by xylazine in mice

Objective To explore a new model of status epilepticus in mice with a high success rate and high survival rate. Methods Based on the traditional induction model with pilocarpine in combination of a muscle relaxant xylazine, the effects of different doses and dosing times on the seizure grade, success rate, mortality and survival rate of mice with status epilepticus were recorded. The expression of hippocampal c-Fos mRNA was examined using real-time fluorescence PCR in some mice. Results No statistical difference was found in seizure grade and the level of hippocampal c-Fos mRNA between the xylazine 4 mg·kg^-1 pretreatment group and the traditional model group. The success rate was significantly lower in the xylazine 8 mg·kg^-1 preteatment group than those in the traditional model group. There was no difference in the survival rate and success rate between the xylazine pretreatment group and the traditional model group. Conclusions Pretreatment with 4 mg·kg^-1 xylazine significantly improves the success rate and animal survival rate, which is an efficient and repeatable method to establish a status epilepticus model of mice.