Effects of modafinil on epileptiform activity in absence epilepsy: Results of a study in WAG/Rij rats

Absence epilepsy (AE) presents with brief episodes of unconsciousness limited to generalized similar to 3-Hz spike-and-wave complexes. Modafinil is a drug that is well-tolerated and is used to treat conditions such as hypersomnia, attention deficit disorder, and cocaine addiction. This study was conducted to explore how modafinil affects epileptiform activity in WAG/Rij. A total of 42 adult male WAG/Rij rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into six groups, each containing seven rats. Then, 1 ml/kg of 0.9% serum physiologic was given intra-peritoneally (i.p.) to the control group, and modafinil (1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg, 45 mg, and 180 mg/kg) was given i.p. to the other groups for 7 days. Electrocorticography (ECoG) was used for electrophysiological recording. The total number and mean duration of the SWDs were evaluated after injections of 0.9% serum physiologic solution and different doses of modafinil. There was a notable distinction observed between the control group and the modafinil group concerning the number and average duration of SWDs. Modafinil dose-dependently decreased the total overall count and average duration of SWDs compared to the control group at all doses (p < 0.001). Modafinil may play an important role in the prevention of epileptic seizures. Our results showed that modafinil may dose-dependently ameliorate the total SWD number and mean duration in WAG/Rij rats. Because this was the first study to investigate the effect of modafinil on AE in WAG/Rij rats, we believe that our data will form the basis for further research.