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Spreading depolarization in the brainstem mediates sudden cardiorespiratory arrest in mouse SUDEP models.

ABSTRACT: Cardiorespiratory collapse after a seizure is the leading cause of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in young persons, but why only certain individuals are at risk is unknown. To identify a mechanism for this lethal cardiorespiratory failure, we examined whether genes linked to increased SUDEP risk lower the threshold for spreading depolarization (SD), a self-propagating depolarizing wave that silences neuronal networks. Mice carrying mutations in Kv1.1 potassium channels (-/-) and Scn1a sodium ion channels (+/R1407X) phenocopy many aspects of human SUDEP. In mutant, but not wild-type mice, seizures initiated by topical application of 4-aminopyridine to the cortex led to a slow, negative DC potential shift recorded in the dorsal medulla, a brainstem region that controls cardiorespiratory pacemaking. This irreversible event slowly depolarized cells and inactivated synaptic activity, producing cardiorespiratory arrest. Local initiation of SD in this region by potassium chloride microinjection also elicited electroencephalographic suppression, apnea, bradycardia, and asystole, similar to the events seen in monitored human SUDEP. In vitro study of brainstem slices confirmed that mutant mice had a lower threshold for SD elicited by metabolic substrate depletion and that immature mice were at greater risk than adults. Deletion of the gene encoding tau, which prolongs life in these mutants, also restored the normal SD threshold in Kv1.1-mutant mouse brainstem. Thus, brainstem SD may be a critical threshold event linking seizures and SUDEP.

SUBMITTER: Aiba I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4852131 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Spreading depolarization in the brainstem mediates sudden cardiorespiratory arrest in mouse SUDEP models.

Aiba Isamu I Noebels Jeffrey L JL

Science translational medicine 20150401 282

Cardiorespiratory collapse after a seizure is the leading cause of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in young persons, but why only certain individuals are at risk is unknown. To identify a mechanism for this lethal cardiorespiratory failure, we examined whether genes linked to increased SUDEP risk lower the threshold for spreading depolarization (SD), a self-propagating depolarizing wave that silences neuronal networks. Mice carrying mutations in Kv1.1 potassium channels (-/-) and Scn ...[more]

PMID: 25855492

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Project description:Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a fatal complication of epilepsy in which brainstem spreading depolarization may play a pivotal role, as suggested by animal studies. However, patiotemporal details of spreading depolarization occurring in relation to fatal seizures have not been investigated. In addition, little is known about behavioural and neurophysiological features that may discriminate spontaneous fatal from non-fatal seizures. Transgenic mice carrying the missense mutation S218L in the α1A subunit of Cav2.1 (P/Q-type) Ca2+ channels exhibit enhanced excitatory neurotransmission and increased susceptibility to spreading depolarization. Homozygous Cacna1aS218L mice show spontaneous non-fatal and fatal seizures, occurring throughout life, resulting in reduced life expectancy. To identify characteristics of fatal and non-fatal spontaneous seizures, we compared behavioural and electrophysiological seizure dynamics in freely-behaving homozygous Cacna1aS218L mice. To gain insight on the role of brainstem spreading depolarization in SUDEP, we studied the spatiotemporal distribution of spreading depolarization in the context of seizure-related death. Spontaneous and electrically-induced seizures were investigated by video monitoring and electrophysiological recordings in freely-behaving Cacna1aS218L and wild-type mice. Homozygous Cacna1aS218L mice showed multiple spontaneous tonic-clonic seizures and died from SUDEP in adulthood. Death was preceded by a tonic-clonic seizure terminating with hindlimb clonus, with suppression of cortical neuronal activity during and after the seizure. Induced seizures in freely-behaving homozygous Cacna1aS218L mice were followed by multiple spreading depolarizations and death. In wild-type or heterozygous Cacna1aS218L mice, induced seizures and spreading depolarization were never followed by death. To identify temporal and regional features of seizure-induced spreading depolarization related to fatal outcome, diffusion-weighted MRI was performed in anaesthetized homozygous Cacna1aS218L and wild-type mice. In homozygous Cacna1aS218L mice, appearance of seizure-related spreading depolarization in the brainstem correlated with respiratory arrest that was followed by cardiac arrest and death. Recordings in freely-behaving homozygous Cacna1aS218L mice confirmed brainstem spreading depolarization during spontaneous fatal seizures. These data underscore the value of the homozygous Cacna1aS218L mouse model for identifying discriminative features of fatal compared to non-fatal seizures, and support a key role for cortical neuronal suppression and brainstem spreading depolarization in SUDEP pathophysiology.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of death in those with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). There is a need for inventories and biomarkers associated with the risk for SUDEP. OBJECTIVE:To explore the revised SUDEP Risk Inventory (SUDEP-7) in a cohort with DRE and determine the association with Heart Rate and other covariates. METHODS:Twenty-five subjects with severe DRE were enrolled in a clinical trial for epilepsy. Baseline demographics, duration of epilepsy, seizure types, seizure frequency, seizure severity, AEDs, and vital signs were collected. Heart rate variability (HRV) was calculated from 1-h recordings of ECG. A SUDEP Risk Inventory (SUDEP-7) was administered, which included seven validated and weighted risk factors initially identified by Walczak et al. as factors associated with SUDEP risk. RESULTS:The total score on the revised SUDEP-7 ranged from 1 to 7, mean?=?3.4 (SD 1.8). The SUDEP Risk Inventory score was inversely correlated with RMSSD (Pearson r?=?-0.45, p?=?0.027). The following variables were significantly associated with RMSSD: epilepsy duration (p?=?0.02), age (p?=?0.03), and developmental intellectual disability (p?<?0.001). The correlation between RMSSD and SUDEP-7 tended to persist also after the adjustment for patient age (r?=?-0.40, p?=?0.05). Two subjects died of SUDEP: their SUDEP-7 scores were above average and in the upper twenty-fifth and fiftieth percentiles, respectively (6 and 4, mean?=?3.4). CONCLUSION:RMSSD, a measure of low frequency HRV, was significantly associated with SUDEP Risk Inventory (SUDEP-7) scores. Using a multivariate model, the covariates of developmental intellectual disability, age, and duration of epilepsy were also significantly associated with decreased HRV. The correlation between decreased HRV and a higher SUDEP-7 score remained unchanged even after the adjustment for patient age. The results suggest that older age, greater duration of epilepsy, and the presence of developmental intellectual disability may increase the risk of SUDEP through their direct influence on decreasing the vagus nerve-mediated HRV. Further validation of the SUDEP-7 inventory is indicated. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00871377.

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Spreading depolarization in the brainstem mediates sudden cardiorespiratory arrest in mouse SUDEP models.

Publications

Spreading depolarization in the brainstem mediates sudden cardiorespiratory arrest in mouse SUDEP models.

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