The effects of right and left amygdala kindling on the female reproductive system in rats

Women with epilepsy often have comorbid reproductive dysfunction. Using the amygdala kindling model in rats, the present study examined the effects of seizures of limbic origin on the reproductive system. Female Wistar rats were kindled from the left or right basolateral amygdala to a criterion of 40 stage V seizures. Sham-kindled subjects were handled but not stimulated. Vaginal cytology was assessed daily for the duration of the study. Twenty-four hours following the last kindled seizure, kindled subjects and their yoked controls were sacrificed and their brains and serum were extracted. Kindled subjects displayed significantly more abnormal estrous cycle days and significantly elevated levels of estradiol as compared to controls. There was, however, no total suppression of cycling. No laterality effects were seen for estrous cycle abnormalities. Seizures of limbic origin cause changes in estrous cycling. Right and left kindling seem to have a similar effect. These findings highlight the need for clinicians to monitor reproductive issues among individuals with epilepsy.