Neuroplasticity is the ability of nervous system to undergo structural and functional re–organization in response to altered environmental input. Electroconvulsive seizures (ECS), is an animal model of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) known to induce neuroplasticity in hippocampus, amygdala and subventricular zone of adult rats.

The aim of this study was to see if quantifiable changes in surface area (SA) can be detected in slides of ECS treated rats, which can be used as an indicator of neuroplasticity. ECS induced Golgi Cox stained slides of cortical region from 35 sections of high dose ECS treated and 25 sections of sham group were examined under the microscope, photographed and SA calculated. The mean values for High dose and Sham groups were 6.02 ± 0.92mm² and 5.82 ± 1.35mm² respectively.

No statistical significant difference was noted in the surface area between the two groups.