Item – Theses Canada

OCLC number
1006744945
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
LAC copy
Author
Thavendiranathan, Paaladinesh,1977-
Title
The effect of the ketogenic diet on animal seizure models.
Degree
M. Sc. -- University of Toronto, 1999
Publisher
Ottawa : National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, [2001]
Description
2 microfiches
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
The purpose of the present work was to develop an animal seizure model of the ketogenic diet that could be used in future experiments to study its mechanism of action. In the first experiment proconvulsant effects were seen in rats when the effects of the "medium chain triglycerides" ketogenic diet were tested in 4 standard seizure models (maximal electroshock, electroconvulsive shock threshold, metrazol threshold and maximal metrazol). It was hypothesized that these proconvulsant effects were due to the weight differences between the ketogenic diet and control subjects. In the second experiment, weight differences were eliminated, and anticonvulsant effects were seen in the electroconvulsive shock threshold test. In the third experiment, the "classic" ketogenic diet of Bough et al. was tested in the metrazol infusion model, and shown to have anticonvulsant effects. In the fourth experiment, the "classic" ketogenic diet was found to be anticonvulsant in two different seizure models--the electroconvulsive shock threshold model and the maximal metrazol model. Thus anticonvulsant effects of the ketogenic diet can reliably be seen in animals when the weights of the ketogenic diet and control subjects are equalized, and when sensitive tests are used. Experiments related to mechanism can now proceed.
ISBN
0612461475
9780612461475