Deconstructing the neural and ionic involvement of seizure-like events in the striatal network

Dorsal Striatum Is Compromised by Status Epilepticus Induced in Immature Developing Animal Experimental Model of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

This study investigated the striatopallidal complex's involvement in status epilepticus (SE) caused by morphological neurodegenerative changes in a post-natal immature developing brain in a lithium-pilocarpine male Wistar albino rat model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. One hundred experimental pups were grouped by age as follows: 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25 days. SE was induced by lithium-pilocarpine. Brain sections were microscopically examined by Fluoro-Jade B fluorescence stain at intervals of 4, 12, 24, and 48 h and 1 week after SE. Each interval was composed of four induced SE pups and a control. Fluoro-Jade B positive neurons in the dorsal striatum (DS) were screened and plotted on stereotaxic rat brain maps. The DS showed consistent neuronal damage in pups aged 18, 21, and 25 days. The peak of the detected damage was observed in pups aged 18 days, and the start of the morphological sequela was observed 12 h post SE. The neuronal damage in the DS was distributed around its periphery, extending medially. The damaged neurons showed intense Fluoro-Jade B staining at the intervals of 12 and 24 h post SE. SE neuronal damage was evidenced in the post-natal developing brain selectively in the DS and was age-dependent with differing morphological sequela.

The Paroxysmal Depolarization Shift: Reconsidering Its Role in Epilepsy, Epileptogenesis and Beyond

Paroxysmal depolarization shifts (PDS) have been described by epileptologists for the first time several decades ago, but controversy still exists to date regarding their role in epilepsy. In addition to the initial view of a lack of such a role, seemingly opposing hypotheses on epileptogenic and anti-ictogenic effects of PDS have emerged. Hence, PDS may provide novel targets for epilepsy therapy. Evidence for the roles of PDS has often been obtained from investigations of the multi-unit correlate of PDS, an electrographic spike termed “interictal” because of its occurrence during seizure-free periods of epilepsy patients. Meanwhile, interictal spikes have been found to be associated with neuronal diseases other than epilepsy, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, which may indicate a broader implication of PDS in neuropathologies. In this article, we give an introduction to PDS and review evidence that links PDS to pro- as well as anti-epileptic mechanisms, and to other types of neuronal dysfunction. The perturbation of neuronal membrane voltage and of intracellular Ca²⁺ that comes with PDS offers many conceivable pathomechanisms of neuronal dysfunction. Out of these, the operation of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, which play a major role in coupling excitation to long-lasting neuronal changes, is addressed in detail.

Low-frequency stimulation evokes serotonin release in the nucleus accumbens and induces long-term depression via production of endocannabinoid

The nucleus accumbens (NAc), a major component of the mesolimbic system, is involved in the mediation of reinforcing and addictive properties of many dependence-producing drugs. Glutamatergic synapses within the NAc can express plasticity, including a form of endocannabinoid (eCB)-long-term depression (LTD). Recent evidences demonstrate cross talk between eCB signaling pathways and those of other receptor systems, including serotonin (5-HT); the extensive colocalization of CB1 and 5-HT receptors within the NAc suggests the potential for interplay between them. In the present study, we found that 20-min low-frequency (4 Hz) stimulation (LFS-4Hz) of glutamatergic afferences in rat brain slices induces a novel form of eCB-LTD in the NAc core, which requires 5-HT2 and CB1 receptor activation and L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel opening. Moreover, we found that exogenous 5-HT application (5 μM, 20 min) induces an analogous LTD (5-HT-LTD) at the same synapses, requiring the activation of the same receptors and the opening of the same Ca2+ channels; LFS-4Hz-LTD and 5-HT-LTD were mutually occlusive. Present results suggest that LFS-4Hz induces the release of 5-HT, which acts at 5-HT2 postsynaptic receptors, increasing Ca2+ influx through L-type voltage-gated channels and 2-arachidonoylglycerol production and release; the eCB travels retrogradely and binds to presynaptic CB1 receptors, causing a long-lasting decrease of glutamate release, resulting in LTD. These observations might be helpful to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying drug addiction, major depression, and other psychiatric disorders characterized by dysfunction of 5-HT neurotransmission in the NAc.