Age-dependent differences in flurothyl seizure sensitivity in mice treated with a ketogenic diet

Despite strong clinical data confirming the anticonvulsant efficacy of a ketogenic diet (KGD) in pediatric patients, corroborative experimental data in young animals are limited. In the present study, the effects of a KGD on flurothyl seizure susceptibility were examined in normal juvenile mice after a dietary duration of 3, 7, or 12 days, and in adult mice for 15 days. In all groups of KGD-treated mice, blood beta-hydroxybutyrate levels were significantly elevated over those measured in controls. The present KGD was anticonvulsant (i.e. delayed onset) against the first (clonic) flurothyl-induced seizure for juvenile mice treated for either 7 or 12 days, but not for juvenile mice and adult mice fed the diet for 3 and 15 days, respectively. While this KGD was not anticonvulsant against the second (tonic extension) seizure induced by flurothyl in any of the juvenile groups, it significantly delayed tonic extension in the adult group. In addition, juvenile mice fed a KGD exhibited a lower mortality rate following flurothyl-induced seizures compared to mice fed a standard diet. In our discussion of animal models of the KGD, we highlight the need to understand better the impact of important variables such as dietary composition, genetic background, and mode of seizure induction in the study of the KGD. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.