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An Optogenetic Kindling Model of Neocortical Epilepsy.

ABSTRACT: Epileptogenesis is the gradual process by which the healthy brain develops epilepsy. However, the neuronal circuit changes that underlie epileptogenesis are not well understood. Unfortunately, current chemically or electrically induced epilepsy models suffer from lack of cell specificity, so it is seldom known which cells were activated during epileptogenesis. We therefore sought to develop an optogenetic variant of the classical kindling model of epilepsy in which activatable cells are both genetically defined and fluorescently tagged. We briefly optogenetically activated pyramidal cells (PCs) in awake behaving mice every two days and conducted a series of experiments to validate the effectiveness of the model. Although initially inert, brief optogenetic stimuli eventually elicited seizures that increased in number and severity with additional stimulation sessions. Seizures were associated with long-lasting plasticity, but not with tissue damage or astrocyte reactivity. Once optokindled, mice retained an elevated seizure susceptibility for several weeks in the absence of additional stimulation, indicating a form of long-term sensitization. We conclude that optokindling shares many features with classical kindling, with the added benefit that the role of specific neuronal populations in epileptogenesis can be studied. Links between long-term plasticity and epilepsy can thus be elucidated.

SUBMITTER: Cela E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6437216 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An Optogenetic Kindling Model of Neocortical Epilepsy.

Cela Elvis E McFarlan Amanda R AR Chung Andrew J AJ Wang Taiji T Chierzi Sabrina S Murai Keith K KK Sjöström P Jesper PJ

Scientific reports 20190327 1

Epileptogenesis is the gradual process by which the healthy brain develops epilepsy. However, the neuronal circuit changes that underlie epileptogenesis are not well understood. Unfortunately, current chemically or electrically induced epilepsy models suffer from lack of cell specificity, so it is seldom known which cells were activated during epileptogenesis. We therefore sought to develop an optogenetic variant of the classical kindling model of epilepsy in which activatable cells are both gen ...[more]

PMID: 30918286

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Project description:Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis yields new insights into potential therapies that may ultimately prevent epilepsy. Gap junctions (GJs) create direct intercellular conduits between adjacent cells and are formed by hexameric protein subunits called connexins (Cxs). Changes in the expression of Cxs affect GJ communication and thereby could modulate the dissemination of electrical discharges. The hippocampus is one of the main regions involved in epileptogenesis and has a wide network of GJs between different cell types where Cx30 is expressed in astrocytes and Cx32 exists in neurons and oligodendrocytes. In the present study, we evaluated the changes of Cx30 and Cx32 expression in rat hippocampus during kindling epileptogenesis.Rats were stereotaxically implanted with stimulating and recording electrodes in the basolateral amygdala, which was electrically stimulated once daily at afterdischarge threshold. Expression of Cx30 and Cx32, at both the mRNA and protein levels, was measured in the hippocampus at the beginning, in the middle (after acquisition of focal seizures), and at the end (after establishment of generalized seizures) of the kindling process, by real-time PCR and Western blot.Cx30 mRNA expression was upregulated at the beginning of kindling and after acquisition of focal seizures. Then it was downregulated when the animals acquired generalized seizures. Overexpression of Cx30 mRNA at the start of kindling was consistent with the respective initial protein increase. Thereafter, no change was found in protein abundance during kindling. Regarding Cx32, mRNA expression decreased after acquisition of generalized seizures and no other significant change was detected in mRNA and protein abundance during kindling.We speculate that Cx32 GJ communication in the hippocampus does not contribute to kindling epileptogenesis. The Cx30 astrocytic network localized to perivascular regions in the hippocampus is, however, overexpressed at the initiation of kindling to clear excitotoxic molecules from the milieu.

Project description:PurposeTo examine the effects of current shunt on rats with temporal lobe epilepsy and neocortex epilepsy.Experimental designA kainic acid (KA)-induced model of temporal lobe seizure and a penicillin-induced model of neocortical partial seizure were used in this study. Rats of each model were randomly allocated into two groups: control and model groups. The model group was further divided into the KA or penicillin group, sham conduction group and conduction group. The current shunt was realized through the implantation of a customized conduction electrode. After surgery, electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded for two hours for each rat under anesthesia. Subsequently, the rats were video monitored for 72 h to detect the occurrence of behavioral seizures upon awakening. The average number and duration of seizures on EEG and the number of behavioral seizures were measured.ResultsIn KA model, the number of total EEG seizures in conduction group (9.57±2.46) was significantly less than that in sham conduction group (15.13±3.45) (p<0.01). The duration of EEG seizures in conduction group (26.13±7.81 s) was significantly shorter than that in sham conduction group (34.17±7.25 s) (p?=?0.001). A significant reduction of behavioral seizures was observed in the conduction group compared with KA (p?=?0.000) and sham conduction groups (p?=?0.000). In penicillin model, there was a 61% reduction in total EEG seizures in conduction group compared with sham conduction group (p<0.01), and the duration of EEG seizures in conduction group (6.29±2.64 s) was significantly shorter than that in the sham conduction group (12.07±3.81 s) (p?=?0.002). A significant reduction of behavioral seizures was observed in conduction group compared with penicillin (p<0.01) and sham conduction groups (p<0.01).ConclusionCurrent shunt effectively reduces the onset and severity of seizures. Current shunt therapy could be an effective alternative minimally invasive approach for temporal lobe epilepsy and neocortex epilepsy.

Dataset Information

An Optogenetic Kindling Model of Neocortical Epilepsy.

Publications

An Optogenetic Kindling Model of Neocortical Epilepsy.

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