Interhemispheric field potentials, spreading depression and kindling

Epilepsy Research in the Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague

Starting from simple clinical statistics, the spectrum of methods used in epilepsy research in the Institute of Physiology of the Czechoslovak (now Czech) Academy of Sciences progressively increased. Professor Servít used electrophysiological methods for study of brain activity in lower vertebrates, neuropathology was focused on electronmicroscopic study of cortical epileptic focus and ion-sensitive microelectrodes were used for studies of cortical direct current potentials. Developmental studies used electrophysiological methods (activity and projection of cortical epileptic foci, EEG under the influence of convulsant drugs, hippocampal, thalamic and cortical electrical stimulation for induction of epileptic afterdischarges and postictal period). Extensive pharmacological studies used seizures elicited by convulsant drugs (at first pentylenetetrazol but also other GABA antagonists as well as agonists of glutamate receptors). Motor performance and behavior were also studied during brain maturation. The last but not least molecular biology was included into the spectrum of methods. Many original data were published making a background of position of our laboratory in the first line of laboratories interested in brain development.

Slow potential changes in experimental neocortical propagated foci

During and following interhemispheric stimulation (HS), characteristic negative slow potential changes (NSPCs) appeared which coincided with defined patterns of epileptic phasic field potentials (PFPs). Stimulus time-locked, high-amplitude, interhemispheric responses (IHRs), interictal and ictal patterns were accompanied by typical moderate NSPCs. In the wake of the latter, giant NSPCs occurred, concurrent with Van Harrevelds convulsions and/or either total or partial spreading, or local depressions. Partial depression of the PFPs and spreading of the moderate NSPCs were also present in the IHR stage. It is suggested that the moderate and giant NSPCs characterize two distinct types of experimental epileptogenesis which differ in the extent of alteration of the extracellular ion activities.

Blockade of cortical spreading depression in electrically and chemically stimulated areas of cerebral cortex in rats

Penetration of cortical spreading depression (SD) into epileptic foci established in the cerebral cortex by penicillin or Metrazol and into electrically stimulated cortical regions was studied in anaesthetized rats. SD suppressed the activity of penicillin foci with low rates of interictal discharge (0.3 Hz) but did not invade more active foci (1 Hz) or foci triggered by electrical stimulation (1-3 Hz). Metrazol foci did not block SD propagation unless stimulated at 6-10 Hz. Repetitive direct cortical responses elicited by 0.05-0.1 msec pulses blocked SD propagation when applied at 6-10 Hz for 5-20 min. The SD blockade covered an area 3-5 mm in diameter around the bipolar stimulating electrodes. The block outlasted the stimulation for several minutes but was fully reversible. New stimulation reinstated the SD blockade after a shorter latency and at lower stimulus intensities and rates. Interaction of the blocked cortical area and SD resulted in anomalous SD propagation, characterized by reentry or circle waves, returning through or around the stimulated region to the recovered cortex. The dynamics of the onset and offset of blocking suggests that SD propagation is prevented by enhanced K+ reabsorption which rapidly removes the K+ ions penetrating the stimulated area from the SD wave front. The interactive phenomena, particularly SD circulation around an epileptic focus, may account for periodic changes of ictal and interictal activity found in some types of focal epilepsy.