Kainic acid-induced substantia nigra seizure in rats: behavior, EEG and metabolism

Amygdaloid complex anatomopathological findings in animal models of status epilepticus

Temporal lobe epileptic seizures are one of the most common and well-characterized types of epilepsies. The current knowledge on the pathology of temporal lobe epilepsy relies strongly on studies of epileptogenesis caused by experimentally induced status epilepticus (SE). Although several temporal lobe structures have been implicated in the epileptogenic process, the hippocampal formation is the temporal lobe structure studied in the greatest amount and detail. However, studies in human patients and animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy indicate that the amygdaloid complex can be also an important seizure generator, and several pathological processes have been shown in the amygdala during epileptogenesis. Therefore, in the present review, we systematically selected, organized, described, and analyzed the current knowledge on anatomopathological data associated with the amygdaloid complex during SE-induced epileptogenesis. Amygdaloid complex participation in the epileptogenic process is evidenced, among others, by alterations in energy metabolism, circulatory, and fluid regulation, neurotransmission, immediate early genes expression, tissue damage, cell suffering, inflammation, and neuroprotection. We conclude that major efforts should be made in order to include the amygdaloid complex as an important target area for evaluation in future research on SE-induced epileptogenesis. This article is part of the Special Issue "NEWroscience 2018".

GABAergic interneuron development and function is modulated by the Tsc1 gene

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disease with severe neurologic and psychiatric manifestations including epilepsy, developmental delay, and autism. Despite much progress in defining abnormal signaling pathways including the contribution of increased mTORC1 signaling, specific abnormalities that underlie the severe neurologic features in TSC remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that epilepsy and autism in TSC result from abnormalities of γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) interneurons. To test this hypothesis, we generated conditional knockout mice with selective deletion of the Tsc1 gene in GABAergic interneuron progenitor cells. These interneuron-specific Tsc1 conditional knockout (CKO) mice have impaired growth and decreased survival. Cortical and hippocampal GABAergic interneurons of CKO mice are enlarged and show increased mTORC1 signaling. Total numbers of GABAergic cells are reduced in the cortex with differential reduction of specific GABAergic subtypes. Ectopic clusters of cells with increased mTORC1 signaling are also seen suggesting impaired interneuron migration. The functional consequences of these cellular changes are evident in the decreased seizure threshold on exposure to the proconvulsant flurothyl. These findings support an important role for the Tsc1 gene during GABAergic interneuron development, function, and possibly migration.

Intranigral transplants of immortalized GABAergic cells decrease the expression of kainic acid-induced seizures in the rat

Repeated systemic administration of low doses of kainic acid (KA) induces spontaneous convulsive seizures [Hellier JL, Patrylo PR, Buckmaster PS, Dudek FE. Recurrent spontaneous motor seizures after repeated low-dose systemic treatment with kainate: assessment of a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 1998;31:73-84]. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley animals received intranigral transplants of a control cell line M213-2O, or a cell line transfected with human GAD67 cDNA (M213-2O CL4) [Conejero-Goldberg C, Tornatore C, Abi-Saab W, Monaco MC, Dillon-Carter O, Vawter M, et al. Transduction of human GAD67 cDNA into immortalized striatal cell lines using an Epstein-Barr virus-based plasmid vector increases GABA content. Exp Neurol 2000;161:453-61], or no transplant. Eight weeks after transplantation surgery, KA was administered (5 mg/kg/h) until animals reached stage V seizures as described by Racine [Racine RJ. Modification of seizure activity by electrical stimulation. II. Motor seizure. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1972;32:281-94]. The group transplanted with CL4 required a larger dose of KA and a longer latency to reach a stage V seizure. In addition, this group exhibited significantly fewer stage III and IV seizures. These results indicate that intranigral transplants of a GABA-producing cell line can decrease the number of kainic acid-induced seizures.

A new rat model of acute seizures induced by tutin

Coriaria Lactone (CL) is a mixture that has been used to establish animal models of epilepsy. In this study, we focused on the epileptogenic action of tutin, a pure chemical component derived from CL. Rats were implanted with a guide cannula for microinjection of tutin into either of the lateral cerebral ventricles. Behavioral and electroencephalographic (EEG) changes were investigated for at least 2 h after tutin administration. Injected animals presented behavioral seizures: initially, facial and limbic clonus, and subsequently, tonic-clonic seizures that eventually progressed to status epilepticus. Accompanying the behavioral activities, a variety of EEG patterns were recorded. Spike-and-wave complexes occurred continuously at 3 Hz, with a mean amplitude of approximately 295 microV. Multiple spikes and slow waves occurred repetitively and became more frequent and intense. The amplitude of this EEG pattern was low (approximately 85 microV) at onset and gradually increased to approximately 200 microV. Spikes (8 Hz, approximately 555 microV) and slow waves (3 Hz, approximately 670 microV) occurred periodically at the onset of grand mal seizures. Behavioral and EEG changes induced in rats by tutin demonstrated that this is a potent convulsant, by which a new animal model of status epilepticus was established. This acute seizure model is productive and would be optional for investigation of seizures or status epilepticus.

Kindling and status epilepticus models of epilepsy: rewiring the brain

This review focuses on the remodeling of brain circuitry associated with epilepsy, particularly in excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA systems, including alterations in synaptic efficacy, growth of new connections, and loss of existing connections. From recent studies on the kindling and status epilepticus models, which have been used most extensively to investigate temporal lobe epilepsy, it is now clear that the brain reorganizes itself in response to excess neural activation, such as seizure activity. The contributing factors to this reorganization include activation of glutamate receptors, second messengers, immediate early genes, transcription factors, neurotrophic factors, axon guidance molecules, protein synthesis, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Some of the resulting changes may, in turn, contribute to the permanent alterations in seizure susceptibility. There is increasing evidence that neurogenesis and synaptogenesis can appear not only in the mossy fiber pathway in the hippocampus but also in other limbic structures. Neuronal loss, induced by prolonged seizure activity, may also contribute to circuit restructuring, particularly in the status epilepticus model. However, it is unlikely that any one structure, plastic system, neurotrophin, or downstream effector pathway is uniquely critical for epileptogenesis. The sensitivity of neural systems to the modulation of inhibition makes a disinhibition hypothesis compelling for both the triggering stage of the epileptic response and the long-term changes that promote the epileptic state. Loss of selective types of interneurons, alteration of GABA receptor configuration, and/or decrease in dendritic inhibition could contribute to the development of spontaneous seizures.

GABA-B receptor activation in the rat globus pallidus potently suppresses pentylenetetrazol-induced tonic seizures

To determine the involvement of the globus pallidus in mediating epilepsy, the effects of microinjection of a GABA uptake blocker (tiagabine), a benzodiazepine agonist (zolpidem) and a GABA-B receptor agonist (baclofen) on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced tonic seizure were examined in adult rats. Administration of PTZ induced tonic seizures in all control animals, accompanied with a 100% mortality rate. Pretreatment with bilateral intrapallidal microinjection of tiagabine (1 mM) suppressed the incidence of tonic seizures to 67.7% and reduced the mortality rate to 16.7%. Furthermore, the latency to tonic seizures was 1,275 +/- 277 s, which was significantly longer than that of the corresponding control animals (319 +/- 225 s). On the other hand, administration of zolpidem (1 mM) was without significant effects on the mortality rate, the incidence and latency of the tonic seizure. In sharp contrast, microinjection of baclofen (1 mM) completely suppressed PTZ-induced tonic seizures and reduced the mortality rate to 0%. This effect was largely abolished by co-injection of the GABA-B receptor antagonist CGP55845. To elucidate the direct cellular action of baclofen, the excitability and membrane potential of globus pallidus neurons were studied by cell-attached and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in the brain slice. Bath application of baclofen (50 microM) significantly reduced the firing of these neurons, and was often accompanied by a clear membrane hyperpolarization, in a CGP55845-sensitive manner. These data suggest that activation of GABA-B receptors in globus pallidus could significantly modulate PTZ-induced tonic seizures.

The role of subcortical structures in human epilepsy

Like normal cerebral function, epileptic seizures involve widespread network interactions between cortical and subcortical structures. Although the cortex is often emphasized as the site of seizure origin, accumulating evidence points to a crucial role for subcortical structures in behavioral manifestations, propagation, and, in some cases, initiation of epileptic seizures. Extensive previous studies have shown the importance of subcortical structures in animal seizure models, but corresponding human studies have been relatively few. We review the existing evidence supporting the importance of the thalamus, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and brain stem in human epilepsy. We also propose a "network inhibition hypothesis" through which focal cortical seizures disrupt function in subcortical structures (such as the medial diencephalon and pontomesencephalic reticular formation), leading secondarily to widespread inhibition of nonseizing cortical regions, which may in turn be responsible for behavioral manifestations such as loss of consciousness during complex partial seizures.

Electrophysiological, behavioral and metabolical features of globus pallidus seizures induced by a microinjection of kainic acid in rats

There has been few studies of the globus pallidus in relation to epilepsy. In this study, kainic acid (KA)-induced globus pallidus seizure was electrophysiologically, electroencephalographically, histopathologically and metabolically investigated in rats. Sixteen Wistar rats weighing 250-350 g were used. Under intraperitoneal pentobarbital anesthesia, a stainless-steel cannula was inserted stereotaxically into the left globus pallidus pars externa (GPe) for KA injection. For recording EEG, a depth electrode was inserted into the left GPe, just posterior to the tip of the injection guide cannula. Electrodes were also inserted into the right globus pallidus and bilateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC). EEG changes after KA injection were classified as follows: Continuous low-voltage spikes were observed in the left GPe on EEG at stage 1. Intermittent multiple spikes and wave complexes began to propagate to the left SMC at stage 2. Continuous spikes and wave complexes began to propagate to the bilateral SMC at stage 3. Secondary generalized seizures were observed at stage 4. Globus pallidus seizures recurred every 7-9 min and lasted for 4-6 h. However, the seizures gradually subsided and became normal within 18 h. No spontaneous seizure was detected for the next 30 days. Histopathological study revealed a small gliotic lesion with neuronal cell loss around the cannula tip. Neither degeneration nor neuronal cell loss in the ipsilateral hippocampus were observed. The autoradiogram using [14C]2-deoxyglucose during seizure status demonstrated a remarkable increase of local cerebral glucose utilization not only in the GPe but also in the GPi. An increase glucose metabolism was also found in the follows: the medial and lateral septal nucleus, substantia nigra, hippocampus, frontal cortex, parietal cortex, piriform cortex, entorhinal cortex, accumbens nucleus, ventral and lateral nucleus of the thalamus, amygdala, and ventral nucleus of hypothalamus. KA injection into the unilateral GPe evoked not only epileptic excitation of the cortex but also transient enhancement of the globus pallidus-substantia nigra circuit.