Imaging and biochemical biomarkers of psychiatric comorbidities in a rat epilepsy model

Aims: Biomarkers of epilepsy-associated psychiatric comorbidities represent a powerful tool for an early diagnosis and personalized therapy in patients with epilepsy. Here, in order to identify new candidates as biomarkers of epilepsy comorbidities, alterations in brain metabolic activity and serotonergic neurotransmission in a rat post-status epilepticus model were explored and cross-correlated with alterations in various neurobehavioral and biochemical parameters. Methods: Status epilepticus was induced in twelve female Sprague Dawley rats by lithium chloride-pilocarpine treatment. µPET analysis to determine [18F]FDG uptake and [18F]MPPF binding were performed in the chronic phase of epil…