Functional development of the altitude convulsion mechanism in mice and rabbits

Fifty one young mice from 6 litters and 17 young rabbits from 3 litters at different ages were used for determining their functional maturation of the altitude convulsion mechanism. It was found that none of the 1 to 9-day-old mice exhibited convulsion when they were subjected to severe hypoxia. The frequency of altitude convulsions at ages of 10, 11, 12 and 13 days was 9%, 53%, 71% and 100% respectively. On the other hand, altitude convulsion was observed in 2 of 6 19-day-old (33%), 5 of 8 21-day-old (63%), 5 of 6 23-day-old (83%) and all of 24-day-old rabbits (100%). The average functional maturation period of the altitude convulsion mechanism in young mice and rabbits was shown to be 12 and 22 days of age respectively. It is clear that such a mechanism matures at different rates in different species.