Objective The contribution of seizures to cognitive changes remains controversial. We tested
the hypothesis that a single episode of neonatal seizures (sNS) on rat postnatal day (P) 7
permanently impairs hippocampal‐dependent function in mature (P60) rats because of long‐
lasting changes at the synaptic level. Methods sNS was induced with subcutaneously
injected kainate on P7. Learning, memory, mossy fiber sprouting, spine density,
hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and glutamate receptor expression and subcellular …

Neonatal seizures are often associated with long-term neurological consequences including
postneonatal epilepsy, behavioral problems, and mental retardation. 1–3 Although it is
widely recognized that the cause of the seizures is the primary determinant of outcome,
controversy remains regarding whether the occurrence of seizures themselves in the
neonate contributes to the poor outcome. 4 The notion that neonatal seizures do not result in
adverse long-term consequence received some support from animal studies showing that …