Respiratory dysfunction and fatal apnea during pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Status epilepticus (SE) is second only to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy as a cause of seizure-related mortality. The progression of respiratory dysfunction during experimental SE remains poorly characterized. We investigated how pilocarpine-induced SE affects respiration in mice.

Methods

We performed simultaneous plethysmographic, electroencephalographic, and electrocardiographic recordings in mice administered pilocarpine at 200, 240, or 280 mg/kg. We analyzed seizure progression, respiratory rate, ventilation, inspiratory/expiratory timing, and survival.

Results

Higher pilocarpine doses resulted in shorter latency to SE and increased mortality. Across all doses, respiratory frequency and ventilation increased from baseline through early and establish

SUBMITTER: Sun C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12927686 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature