Acoustic brainstem nuclei express Fos after flurothyl-induced generalized seizures in rats

The inferior colliculus (IC) plays a key role in modulating audiogenic seizures (AS) in rats. We investigated whether acoustic brainstem nuclei express Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) after flurothyl-induced generalized seizures in rats. Compared to controls, experimental animals showed significantly (P<0.05) more FLI in the dorsal and external cortex of the IC, as well as in the medial part of the medial geniculate body (MGB), perigeniculate area, and dorsal cochlear nucleus. No significant increase of FLI was observed in the central nucleus of the IC, ventral and dorsal parts of the MGB, dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, or ventral cochlear nucleus. Because this pattern of FLI closely resembles that observed after AS in previous studies, these results suggest that Fos expression in acoustic brainstem nuclei is not specific for AS.