1
|
Widmann M, Lieb A, Fogli B, Steck A, Mutti A, Schwarzer C. Characterization of the intrahippocampal kainic acid model in female mice with a special focus on seizure suppression by antiseizure medications. Exp Neurol 2024; 376:114749. [PMID: 38467356 PMCID: PMC7615823 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Despite special challenges in the medical treatment of women with epilepsy, in particular preclinical animal studies were focused on males for decades and females have only recently moved into the focus of scientific interest. The intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most studied models in males reproducing electroencephalographic (EEG) and histopathological features of human TLE. Hippocampal paroxysmal discharges (HPDs) were described as drug resistant focal seizures in males. Here, we investigated the IHKA model in female mice, in particular drug-resistance of HPDs and the influence of antiseizure medications (ASMs) on the power spectrum. After injecting kainic acid (KA) unilaterally into the hippocampus of female mice, we monitored the development of epileptiform activity by local field potential (LFP) recordings. Subsequently, we evaluated the effect of the commonly prescribed ASMs lamotrigine (LTG), oxcarbazepine (OXC) and levetiracetam (LEV), as well as the benzodiazepine diazepam (DZP) with a focus on HPDs and power spectral analysis and assessed neuropathological alterations of the hippocampus. In the IHKA model, female mice replicated key features of human TLE as previously described in males. Importantly, HPDs in female mice did not respond to commonly prescribed ASMs in line with the drug-resistance in males, thus representing a suitable model of drug-resistant seizures. Intriguingly, we observed an increased occurrence of generalized seizures after LTG. Power spectral analysis revealed a pronounced increase in the delta frequency range after the higher dose of 30 mg/kg LTG. DZP abolished HPDs and caused a marked reduction over a wide frequency range (delta, theta, and alpha) of the power spectrum. By characterizing the IHKA model of TLE in female mice we address an important gap in basic research. Considering the special challenges complicating the therapeutic management of epilepsy in women, inclusion of females in preclinical studies is imperative. A well-characterized female model is a prerequisite for the development of novel therapeutic strategies tailored to sex-specific needs and for studies on the effect of epilepsy and ASMs during pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Widmann
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Andreas Lieb
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Barbara Fogli
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Angela Steck
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Anna Mutti
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Schwarzer
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mardones MD, Rostam KD, Nickerson MC, Gupta K. Canonical Wnt activator Chir99021 prevents epileptogenesis in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Exp Neurol 2024; 376:114767. [PMID: 38522659 PMCID: PMC11058011 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway mediates the development of dentate granule cell neurons in the hippocampus. These neurons are central to the development of temporal lobe epilepsy and undergo structural and physiological remodeling during epileptogenesis, which results in the formation of epileptic circuits. The pathways responsible for granule cell remodeling during epileptogenesis have yet to be well defined, and represent therapeutic targets for the prevention of epilepsy. The current study explores Wnt signaling during epileptogenesis and for the first time describes the effect of Wnt activation using Wnt activator Chir99021 as a novel anti-epileptogenic therapeutic approach. Focal mesial temporal lobe epilepsy was induced by intrahippocampal kainate (IHK) injection in wild-type and POMC-eGFP transgenic mice. Wnt activator Chir99021 was administered daily, beginning 3 h after seizure induction, and continued up to 21-days. Immature granule cell morphology was quantified in the ipsilateral epileptogenic zone and the contralateral peri-ictal zone 14 days after IHK, targeting the end of the latent period. Bilateral hippocampal electrocorticographic recordings were performed for 28-days, 7-days beyond treatment cessation. Hippocampal behavioral tests were performed after completion of Chir99021 treatment. Consistent with previous studies, IHK resulted in the development of epilepsy after a 14 day latent period in this well-described mouse model. Activation of the canonical Wnt pathway with Chir99021 significantly reduced bilateral hippocampal seizure number and duration. Critically, this effect was retained after treatment cessation, suggesting a durable antiepileptogenic change in epileptic circuitry. Morphological analyses demonstrated that Wnt activation prevented pathological remodeling of the primary dendrite in both the epileptogenic zone and peri-ictal zone, changes in which may serve as a biomarker of epileptogenesis and anti-epileptogenic treatment response in pre-clinical studies. These findings were associated with improved object location memory with Chir99021 treatment after IHK. This study provides novel evidence that canonical Wnt activation prevents epileptogenesis in the IHK mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, preventing pathological remodeling of dentate granule cells. Wnt signaling may therefore play a key role in mesial temporal lobe epileptogenesis, and Wnt modulation may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in the prevention of epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muriel D Mardones
- Indiana University, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, W 15th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America; Indiana University, Department of Neurosurgery, W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America.
| | - Kevin D Rostam
- Indiana University, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, W 15th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America.
| | - Margaret C Nickerson
- Indiana University, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, W 15th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America.
| | - Kunal Gupta
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Neurosurgery, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States of America; Medical College of Wisconsin, Neuroscience Research Center, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States of America; Indiana University, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, W 15th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America; Indiana University, Department of Neurosurgery, W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lawande NV, Conklin EA, Christian‐Hinman CA. Sex and gonadectomy modify behavioral seizure susceptibility and mortality in a repeated low-dose kainic acid systemic injection paradigm in mice. Epilepsia Open 2023; 8:1512-1522. [PMID: 37715318 PMCID: PMC10690657 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sex differences in epilepsy appear driven in part due to effects of gonadal steroids, with varying results in experimental models based on species, strain, and method of seizure induction. Furthermore, removing the main source of these steroids via gonadectomy may impact seizure characteristics differently in males and females. Repeated low-dose kainic acid (RLDKA) systemic injection paradigms were recently shown to reliably induce status epilepticus (SE) and hippocampal histopathology in C57BL/6J mice. Here, we investigated whether seizure susceptibility in a RLDKA injection protocol exhibits a sex difference and whether gonadectomy differentially influences response to this seizure induction paradigm in males and females. METHODS Adult C57BL/6J mice were left gonad-intact as controls or gonadectomized (females: ovariectomized, OVX; males: orchidectomized, ORX). At least 2 weeks later, KA was injected ip, every 30 minutes at 7.5 mg/kg or less until the animal reached SE, defined by at least 5 generalized seizures (GS, Racine stage 3 or higher). Parameters of susceptibility to GS induction, SE development, and mortality rates were quantified. RESULTS No differences in seizure susceptibility or mortality were observed between control males and control females. Gonadectomized mice exhibited increased susceptibility and reduced latency to both GS and SE in comparison to corresponding controls of the same sex, but the effects were stronger in males. In addition, ORX males, but not OVX females, exhibited strongly increased seizure-induced mortality. SIGNIFICANCE The RLDKA protocol is notable for its efficacy in inducing SE and seizure-induced histopathology in C57BL/6J mice, the background for many transgenic strains in current use in epilepsy research. The present results indicate that this protocol may be beneficial for investigating the effects of gonadal hormone replacement on seizure susceptibility, mortality, and seizure-induced histopathology, and that gonadectomy unmasks sex differences in susceptibility to seizures and mortality not observed in gonad-intact controls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niraj V. Lawande
- Department of Molecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | | | - Catherine A. Christian‐Hinman
- Department of Molecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
- Neuroscience ProgramUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and TechnologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bahramnejad E, Barney ER, Lester S, Hurtado A, Thompson T, Watkins JC, Hammer MF. Greater female than male resilience to mortality and morbidity in the Scn8a mouse model of pediatric epilepsy. Int J Neurosci 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37929583 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2023.2279497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Females and males of all ages are affected by epilepsy; however, unlike many clinical studies, most preclinical research has focused on males. Genetic variants in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene, SCN8A, are associated with a broad spectrum of neurological and epileptic syndromes. Here we investigate sex differences in the natural history of the Scn8a-N1768D knockin mouse model of pediatric epilepsy. METHODS We utilize 24/7 video to monitor juveniles and adults of both sexes to investigate variability in seizure activity (e.g. onset and frequency), mortality and morbidity, response to cannabinoids, and mode of death. We also monitor sleep architecture using a noninvasive piezoelectric method in order to identify factors that influence seizure severity and outcome. RESULTS Both sexes had nearly 100% penetrance in seizure onset and early mortality. However, adult heterozygous (D/+) females were more resilient as exhibited by the ability to tolerate more seizures over a longer lifespan. Homozygous (D/D) juveniles did not exhibit a sex difference in overall survival. Female estrus cycle was disrupted before seizure onset, while sleep was disrupted in both sexes in association with seizure onset. Females typically died while in convulsive status epilepticus; however, a high proportion of males died while not experiencing behavioral seizures. Only juvenile and adult males benefited from cannabinoid administration. CONCLUSIONS These results support the hypothesis that factors associated with sexual differentiation play a role in the neurobiology of epilepsy and point to the importance of including both sexes in the design of studies to identify new epilepsy therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erfan Bahramnejad
- Graduate Program in Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, AZ, USA
| | - Emily R Barney
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, AZ, USA
| | - Sarah Lester
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, AZ, USA
| | - Aurora Hurtado
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, AZ, USA
| | | | - Joseph C Watkins
- Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, AZ, USA
| | - Michael F Hammer
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, AZ, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bershteyn M, Bröer S, Parekh M, Maury Y, Havlicek S, Kriks S, Fuentealba L, Lee S, Zhou R, Subramanyam G, Sezan M, Sevilla ES, Blankenberger W, Spatazza J, Zhou L, Nethercott H, Traver D, Hampel P, Kim H, Watson M, Salter N, Nesterova A, Au W, Kriegstein A, Alvarez-Buylla A, Rubenstein J, Banik G, Bulfone A, Priest C, Nicholas CR. Human pallial MGE-type GABAergic interneuron cell therapy for chronic focal epilepsy. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:1331-1350.e11. [PMID: 37802038 PMCID: PMC10993865 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most common focal epilepsy. One-third of patients have drug-refractory seizures and are left with suboptimal therapeutic options such as brain tissue-destructive surgery. Here, we report the development and characterization of a cell therapy alternative for drug-resistant MTLE, which is derived from a human embryonic stem cell line and comprises cryopreserved, post-mitotic, medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) pallial-type GABAergic interneurons. Single-dose intrahippocampal delivery of the interneurons in a mouse model of chronic MTLE resulted in consistent mesiotemporal seizure suppression, with most animals becoming seizure-free and surviving longer. The grafted interneurons dispersed locally, functionally integrated, persisted long term, and significantly reduced dentate granule cell dispersion, a pathological hallmark of MTLE. These disease-modifying effects were dose-dependent, with a broad therapeutic range. No adverse effects were observed. These findings support an ongoing phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT05135091) for drug-resistant MTLE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonja Bröer
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Mansi Parekh
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yves Maury
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Steven Havlicek
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sonja Kriks
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Luis Fuentealba
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Seonok Lee
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Robin Zhou
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Meliz Sezan
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - Julien Spatazza
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - David Traver
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Philip Hampel
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hannah Kim
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Michael Watson
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Naomi Salter
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Wai Au
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Arnold Kriegstein
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - John Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Gautam Banik
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - Cory R Nicholas
- Neurona Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Masala N, Pofahl M, Haubrich AN, Sameen Islam KU, Nikbakht N, Pasdarnavab M, Bohmbach K, Araki K, Kamali F, Henneberger C, Golcuk K, Ewell LA, Blaess S, Kelly T, Beck H. Targeting aberrant dendritic integration to treat cognitive comorbidities of epilepsy. Brain 2023; 146:2399-2417. [PMID: 36448426 PMCID: PMC10232249 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Memory deficits are a debilitating symptom of epilepsy, but little is known about mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits. Here, we describe a Na+ channel-dependent mechanism underlying altered hippocampal dendritic integration, degraded place coding and deficits in spatial memory. Two-photon glutamate uncaging experiments revealed a marked increase in the fraction of hippocampal first-order CA1 pyramidal cell dendrites capable of generating dendritic spikes in the kainate model of chronic epilepsy. Moreover, in epileptic mice dendritic spikes were generated with lower input synchrony, and with a lower threshold. The Nav1.3/1.1 selective Na+ channel blocker ICA-121431 reversed dendritic hyperexcitability in epileptic mice, while the Nav1.2/1.6 preferring anticonvulsant S-Lic did not. We used in vivo two-photon imaging to determine if aberrant dendritic excitability is associated with altered place-related firing of CA1 neurons. We show that ICA-121431 improves degraded hippocampal spatial representations in epileptic mice. Finally, behavioural experiments show that reversing aberrant dendritic excitability with ICA-121431 reverses hippocampal memory deficits. Thus, a dendritic channelopathy may underlie cognitive deficits in epilepsy and targeting it pharmacologically may constitute a new avenue to enhance cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Masala
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Pofahl
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - André N Haubrich
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Khondker Ushna Sameen Islam
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Negar Nikbakht
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Maryam Pasdarnavab
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Kirsten Bohmbach
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Kunihiko Araki
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Fateme Kamali
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Henneberger
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Kurtulus Golcuk
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Laura A Ewell
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3950, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Sandra Blaess
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tony Kelly
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Heinz Beck
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Stieve BJ, Smith MM, Krook-Magnuson E. LINCs Are Vulnerable to Epileptic Insult and Fail to Provide Seizure Control via On-Demand Activation. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0195-22.2022. [PMID: 36725340 PMCID: PMC9933934 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0195-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is notoriously pharmacoresistant, and identifying novel therapeutic targets for controlling seizures is crucial. Long-range inhibitory neuronal nitric oxide synthase-expressing cells (LINCs), a population of hippocampal neurons, were recently identified as a unique source of widespread inhibition in CA1, able to elicit both GABAA-mediated and GABAB-mediated postsynaptic inhibition. We therefore hypothesized that LINCs could be an effective target for seizure control. LINCs were optogenetically activated for on-demand seizure intervention in the intrahippocampal kainate (KA) mouse model of chronic TLE. Unexpectedly, LINC activation at 1 month post-KA did not substantially reduce seizure duration in either male or female mice. We tested two different sets of stimulation parameters, both previously found to be effective with on-demand optogenetic approaches, but neither was successful. Quantification of LINCs following intervention revealed a substantial reduction of LINC numbers compared with saline-injected controls. We also observed a decreased number of LINCs when the site of initial insult (i.e., KA injection) was moved to the amygdala [basolateral amygdala (BLA)-KA], and correspondingly, no effect of light delivery on BLA-KA seizures. This indicates that LINCs may be a vulnerable population in TLE, regardless of the site of initial insult. To determine whether long-term circuitry changes could influence outcomes, we continued testing once a month for up to 6 months post-KA. However, at no time point did LINC activation provide meaningful seizure suppression. Altogether, our results suggest that LINCs are not a promising target for seizure inhibition in TLE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bethany J Stieve
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Madison M Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Esther Krook-Magnuson
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cutia CA, Leverton LK, Christian-Hinman CA. Sex and estrous cycle stage shape left-right asymmetry in chronic hippocampal seizures in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.524965. [PMID: 36712086 PMCID: PMC9882284 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Lateralization of hippocampal function is indicated by varied outcomes of patients with neurological disorders that selectively affect one hemisphere of this structure, such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) injection model of TLE allows for targeted damage to the left or right hippocampus, enabling systematic comparison of effects of left-right asymmetry on seizure and non-seizure outcomes. Although varying non-seizure phenotypic outcomes based on injection side in dorsal hippocampus were recently evaluated in this model, differences in chronic seizure patterns in left- (IHKA-L) vs. right-injected (IHKA-R) IHKA animals have yet to be evaluated. Here, we evaluated hippocampal seizure incidence in male and female IHKA-L and IHKA-R mice. Females displayed increased electrographic seizure activity compared to males at both 2 months and 4 months post-injection (mpi). In addition, IHKA-L females showed higher seizure frequency than IHKA-R on diestrus and estrus at 2 mpi, but seizure duration and time in seizures were only higher in IHKA-L females on diestrus. These cycle stage-associated changes, however, did not persist to 4 mpi. Furthermore, this lateralized difference in seizure burden was not observed in males. These results indicate for the first time that the side of IHKA injection can shape chronic electrographic seizure burden. Overall, these results demonstrate a female-specific left-right asymmetry in hippocampal function can interact with estrous cycle stage to shape chronic seizures in mice with epilepsy, with implications for neural activity and behavior in both normal and disease states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn A. Cutia
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA
| | - Leanna K. Leverton
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA
| | - Catherine A. Christian-Hinman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Stieve BJ, Richner TJ, Krook-Magnuson C, Netoff TI, Krook-Magnuson E. Optimization of closed-loop electrical stimulation enables robust cerebellar-directed seizure control. Brain 2023; 146:91-108. [PMID: 35136942 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Additional treatment options for temporal lobe epilepsy are needed, and potential interventions targeting the cerebellum are of interest. Previous animal work has shown strong inhibition of hippocampal seizures through on-demand optogenetic manipulation of the cerebellum. However, decades of work examining electrical stimulation-a more immediately translatable approach-targeting the cerebellum has produced very mixed results. We were therefore interested in exploring the impact that stimulation parameters may have on seizure outcomes. Using a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy, we conducted on-demand electrical stimulation of the cerebellar cortex, and varied stimulation charge, frequency and pulse width, resulting in over 1000 different potential combinations of settings. To explore this parameter space in an efficient, data-driven, manner, we utilized Bayesian optimization with Gaussian process regression, implemented in MATLAB with an Expected Improvement Plus acquisition function. We examined three different fitting conditions and two different electrode orientations. Following the optimization process, we conducted additional on-demand experiments to test the effectiveness of selected settings. Regardless of experimental setup, we found that Bayesian optimization allowed identification of effective intervention settings. Additionally, generally similar optimal settings were identified across animals, suggesting that personalized optimization may not always be necessary. While optimal settings were effective, stimulation with settings predicted from the Gaussian process regression to be ineffective failed to provide seizure control. Taken together, our results provide a blueprint for exploration of a large parameter space for seizure control and illustrate that robust inhibition of seizures can be achieved with electrical stimulation of the cerebellum, but only if the correct stimulation parameters are used.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bethany J Stieve
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA
| | - Thomas J Richner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA
| | | | - Theoden I Netoff
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA
| | - Esther Krook-Magnuson
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Löscher W, Stafstrom CE. Epilepsy and its neurobehavioral comorbidities: Insights gained from animal models. Epilepsia 2023; 64:54-91. [PMID: 36197310 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that epilepsy is associated with numerous neurobehavioral comorbidities, with a bidirectional relationship; people with epilepsy have an increased incidence of depression, anxiety, learning and memory difficulties, and numerous other psychosocial challenges, and the occurrence of epilepsy is higher in individuals with those comorbidities. Although the cause-and-effect relationship is uncertain, a fuller understanding of the mechanisms of comorbidities within the epilepsies could lead to improved therapeutics. Here, we review recent data on epilepsy and its neurobehavioral comorbidities, discussing mainly rodent models, which have been studied most extensively, and emphasize that clinically relevant information can be gained from preclinical models. Furthermore, we explore the numerous potential factors that may confound the interpretation of emerging data from animal models, such as the specific seizure induction method (e.g., chemical, electrical, traumatic, genetic), the role of species and strain, environmental factors (e.g., laboratory environment, handling, epigenetics), and the behavioral assays that are chosen to evaluate the various aspects of neural behavior and cognition. Overall, the interplay between epilepsy and its neurobehavioral comorbidities is undoubtedly multifactorial, involving brain structural changes, network-level differences, molecular signaling abnormalities, and other factors. Animal models are well poised to help dissect the shared pathophysiological mechanisms, neurological sequelae, and biomarkers of epilepsy and its comorbidities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carl E Stafstrom
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Buchecker V, Koska I, Pace C, Talbot SR, Palme R, Bleich A, Potschka H. Toward Evidence-Based Severity Assessment in Mouse Models with Repeated Seizures: (II.) Impact of Surgery and Intrahippocampal Kainate. Eur Surg Res 2023; 64:89-107. [PMID: 35073547 PMCID: PMC9808668 DOI: 10.1159/000522156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic epilepsy models require neurosurgical procedures including depth electrode implants. The intrahippocampal kainate model is a frequently used chronic paradigm, which is based on chemoconvulsant administration and status epilepticus induction during the surgical procedure. This experimental approach raises the question of the extent to which this approach affects postsurgical recovery. In addition to the short- and long-term impact of the surgical intervention, a potential impact of highly frequent electrographic seizure events needs to be considered in the context of severity assessment. METHODS Various behavioral, biochemical, and telemetric parameters were analyzed in four experimental groups of mice: 1st naive, 2nd with transmitter implants, 3rd with transmitter and electrode implants, and 4th with transmitter implants, electrode implants, and kainate-induced status epilepticus. RESULTS During the early postsurgical phase, transmitter implants caused a transient impact on Mouse Grimace scores and intragroup increase of fecal corticosterone metabolites. Additional craniotomy was associated with an influence on total heart rate variability and fecal corticosterone metabolites. Heart rate and Irwin score increases as well as a prolonged increase in Mouse Grimace scores pointed to an added burden related to the induction of a nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Data from the chronic phase argued against a relevant influence of frequent electrographic seizures on behavioral patterns, fecal corticosterone metabolites, heart rate, and its variability. However, Irwin scores indicated long-term changes in some animals with increased reactivity, body tone, and Straub tail. Interestingly, selected behavioral and telemetric data from the early post-status epilepticus phase correlated with the frequency of electrographic seizure events in the chronic phase. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our findings argue against the pronounced impact of highly frequent electrographic seizures on the well-being of mice. However, an increased level of nervousness in a subgroup of animals should be considered for handling procedures and refinement measures. In the early postsurgical phase, several parameters indicate an influence of the interventions with evidence that the nonconvulsive status epilepticus can negatively affect the recovery. Thus, the development and validation of refinement efforts should focus on this experimental phase. Finally, the datasets suggest that simple readout parameters may predict the long-term consequences of the epileptogenic insult. Respective biomarker candidates require further validation in the follow-up studies in models with subgroups of animals with or without epilepsy development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Buchecker
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ines Koska
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Pace
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Steven R. Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andre Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- *Heidrun Potschka,
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mardones MD, Gupta K. Transcriptome Profiling of the Hippocampal Seizure Network Implicates a Role for Wnt Signaling during Epileptogenesis in a Mouse Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12030. [PMID: 36233336 PMCID: PMC9569502 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231912030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is a life-threatening condition characterized by recurrent hippocampal seizures. mTLE can develop after exposure to risk factors such as febrile seizure, trauma, and infection. Within the latent period between exposure and onset of epilepsy, pathological remodeling events occur that contribute to epileptogenesis. The molecular mechanisms responsible are currently unclear. We used the mouse intrahippocampal kainite model of mTLE to investigate transcriptional dysregulation in the ipsilateral and contralateral dentate gyrus (DG), representing the epileptogenic zone (EZ) and peri-ictal zone (PIZ). DG were analyzed after 3, 7, and 14 days by RNA sequencing. In both the EZ and PIZ, transcriptional dysregulation was dynamic over the epileptogenic period with early expression of genes representing cell signaling, migration, and proliferation. Canonical Wnt signaling was upregulated in the EZ and PIZ at 3 days. Expression of inflammatory genes differed between the EZ and PIZ, with early expression after 3 days in the PIZ and delayed expression after 7-14 days in the EZ. This suggests that critical gene changes occur early in the hippocampal seizure network and that Wnt signaling may play a role within the latent epileptogenic period. These findings may help to identify novel therapeutic targets that could prevent epileptogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muriel D Mardones
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Kunal Gupta
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cutia CA, Leverton LK, Ge X, Youssef R, Raetzman LT, Christian-Hinman CA. Phenotypic differences based on lateralization of intrahippocampal kainic acid injection in female mice. Exp Neurol 2022; 355:114118. [PMID: 35597270 PMCID: PMC10462257 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Clinical evidence indicates that patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often show differential outcomes of comorbid conditions in relation to the lateralization of the seizure focus. A particularly strong relationship exists between the side of seizure focus and the propensity for distinct reproductive endocrine comorbidities in women with TLE. Therefore, here we evaluated whether targeting of left or right dorsal hippocampus for intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) injection, a model of TLE, produces different outcomes in hippocampal granule cell dispersion, body weight gain, and multiple measures of reproductive endocrine dysfunction in female mice. One, two, and four months after IHKA or saline injection, in vivo measurements of estrous cycles and weight were followed by ex vivo examination of hippocampal dentate granule cell dispersion, circulating ovarian hormone and corticosterone levels, ovarian morphology, and pituitary gene expression. IHKA mice with right-targeted injection (IHKA-R) showed greater granule cell dispersion and pituitary Fshb expression compared to mice with left-targeted injection (IHKA-L). By contrast, pituitary expression of Lhb and Gnrhr were higher in IHKA-L mice compared to IHKA-R, but these values were not different from respective saline-injected controls. IHKA-L mice also showed an increased rate of weight gain compared to IHKA-R mice. Increases in estrous cycle length, however, were similar in both IHKA-L and IHKA-R mice. These findings indicate that although major reproductive endocrine dysfunction phenotypes present similarly after targeting left or right dorsal hippocampus for IHKA injection, distinct underlying mechanisms based on lateralization of epileptogenic insult may contribute to produce similar emergent reproductive endocrine outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn A Cutia
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Leanna K Leverton
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Xiyu Ge
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Rana Youssef
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Lori T Raetzman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Catherine A Christian-Hinman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li J, Christian-Hinman CA. Epilepsy-associated increase in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron firing in diestrous female mice is independent of chronic seizure burden severity. Epilepsy Res 2022; 184:106948. [PMID: 35690025 PMCID: PMC10416707 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.106948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive endocrine disorders are common comorbidities of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Our previous studies using the intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse model of TLE demonstrated that many females show prolonged estrous cycles and hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons exhibit elevated firing during diestrus. However, it is unknown whether the degree of change in GnRH neuron activity is dependent on epilepsy severity. Here, we used 24/7 in vivo electroencephalography (EEG) and in vitro electrophysiological recordings in acute brain slices to assess GnRH neuron firing in relation to chronic seizure burden in diestrous female mice at two months after IHKA injection. We found that percentage of time in seizure activity in the 24 h prior to slice preparation is an accurate proxy of overall seizure burden. Firing rates of GnRH neurons from EEG-recorded IHKA mice were increased in comparison to controls, but no relationships were found between GnRH neuron firing and seizure burden measured in vivo. The independence of GnRH neuron firing rate in relation to seizure burden was unaffected by GnRH neuron soma location or estrous cycle length. Furthermore, GnRH neuron firing rates were not yet different from control values when measured 1 month after injection, when epileptogenesis is already complete in IHKA mice. These findings indicate that the severity of epilepsy and the degree of downstream disruption to GnRH neuron activity are independent, suggesting that susceptibility to reproductive endocrine comorbidities is driven by other risk factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Li
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Catherine A Christian-Hinman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gasparini S, Ferlazzo E, Gigli G, Pauletto G, Nilo A, Lettieri C, Bilo L, Labate A, Fortunato F, Varrasi C, Cantello R, D'Aniello A, Gennaro GD, d'Orsi G, Sabetta A, Claudio MTD, Avolio C, Dono F, Evangelista G, Cavalli SM, Cianci V, Ascoli M, Mastroianni G, Lobianco C, Neri S, Mercuri S, Mammì A, Gambardella A, Beghi E, Torino C, Tripepi G, Aguglia U. Predictive factors of Status Epilepticus and its recurrence in patients with adult-onset seizures: A multicenter, long follow-up cohort study. Seizure 2021; 91:397-401. [PMID: 34298459 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Status epilepticus (SE) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This multicenter retrospective cohort study aims to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of SE and the predictors of its recurrence in patients with adult-onset seizures. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data of 1115 patients with seizure onset>18 years, observed from 1983 to 2020 in 7 Italian Centers (median follow-up 2.1 years). Data were collected from the databases of the Centers. Patients with SE were consecutively recruited, and patients without SE history were randomly selected in a 2:1 ratio. To assess determinants of SE, different clinical-demographic variables were evaluated and included in univariate and multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS Three hundred forty-seven patients had a SE history, whereas the remaining 768 patients had either isolated seizures or epilepsy without SE history. The occurrence of SE was independently associated with increasing age at onset of disease (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01--1.03, p<0.001), female sex (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.05--1.83, p=0.02) and known etiology (OR 3.58, 95% CI 2.61--4.93, p<0.001). SE recurred in 21% of patients with adult-onset SE and recurrence was associated with increasing number of anti-seizure medications taken at last follow-up (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.31--2.71, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS In patients with adult-onset seizures, SE occurrence is associated with known etiologies, advanced age and female sex. Patients with recurrent SE are likely to have a refractory epilepsy, deserving careful treatment to prevent potentially fatal events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gasparini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy; Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Edoardo Ferlazzo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy; Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Gigli
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine Medical School, Udine, Italy and Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy; Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Giada Pauletto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Annacarmen Nilo
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Christian Lettieri
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Leonilda Bilo
- Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Angelo Labate
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco Fortunato
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Claudia Varrasi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Roberto Cantello
- Neurology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Alfredo D'Aniello
- Centre for epilepsy study and treatment, IRCCS "Neuromed", Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe d'Orsi
- Epilepsy Centre-S.C. Neurologia Universitaria, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Annarita Sabetta
- Epilepsy Centre-S.C. Neurologia Universitaria, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria T Di Claudio
- Epilepsy Centre-S.C. Neurologia Universitaria, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Carlo Avolio
- Epilepsy Centre-S.C. Neurologia Universitaria, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Fedele Dono
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giacomo Evangelista
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Salvatore M Cavalli
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Vittoria Cianci
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Michele Ascoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy; Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mastroianni
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Concetta Lobianco
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy; Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Sabrina Neri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy; Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Sergio Mercuri
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Anna Mammì
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonio Gambardella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ettore Beghi
- Laboratory of Neurological Disorders IRCCS "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Torino
- Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension of Reggio Calabria, National Council of Research, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tripepi
- Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension of Reggio Calabria, National Council of Research, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Umberto Aguglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy; Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital, Bianchi-Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Absence epilepsy in male and female WAG/Rij rats: A longitudinal EEG analysis of seizure expression. Epilepsy Res 2021; 176:106693. [PMID: 34225231 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The WAG/Rij strain of rats is commonly used as a preclinical model of genetic absence epilepsy. While widely utilized, the developmental trajectory of absence seizure expression has been only partially described. Moreover, sex differences in this strain have been under-explored. Here, we longitudinally monitored male and female WAG/Rij rats to quantify cortical spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) monthly, from 4 to 10 months of age. In both male and female WAG/Rij rats, absence seizure susceptibility increased with age. In contrast to previous reports, we found a robust and consistent increase in absence epilepsy susceptibility in male WAG/Rij rats in comparison to females across months. The increased absence seizure susceptibility was characterized by increased number and duration of SWDs, and consequently increased total SWDs duration. These findings highlight a previously un-recognized sex difference in a model of absence epilepsy and narrow the knowledge gap of age-dependent expression of SWDs in the WAG/Rij strain.
Collapse
|
17
|
Kang YJ, Clement EM, Park IH, Greenfield LJ, Smith BN, Lee SH. Vulnerability of cholecystokinin-expressing GABAergic interneurons in the unilateral intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Exp Neurol 2021; 342:113724. [PMID: 33915166 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures and behavioral comorbidities. Reduced hippocampal theta oscillations and hyperexcitability that contribute to cognitive deficits and spontaneous seizures are present beyond the sclerotic hippocampus in TLE. However, the mechanisms underlying compromised network oscillations and hyperexcitability observed in circuits remote from the sclerotic hippocampus are largely unknown. Cholecystokinin (CCK)-expressing basket cells (CCKBCs) critically participate in hippocampal theta rhythmogenesis, and regulate neuronal excitability. Thus, we examined whether CCKBCs were vulnerable in nonsclerotic regions of the ventral hippocampus remote from dorsal sclerotic hippocampus using the intrahippocampal kainate (IHK) mouse model of TLE, targeting unilateral dorsal hippocampus. We found a decrease in the number of CCK+ interneurons in ipsilateral ventral CA1 regions from epileptic mice compared to those from sham controls. We also found that the number of boutons from CCK+ interneurons was reduced in the stratum pyramidale, but not in other CA1 layers, of ipsilateral hippocampus in epileptic mice, suggesting that CCKBCs are vulnerable. Electrical recordings showed that synaptic connectivity and strength from surviving CCKBCs to CA1 pyramidal cells (PCs) were similar between epileptic mice and sham controls. In agreement with reduced CCKBC number in TLE, electrical recordings revealed a significant reduction in amplitude and frequency of IPSCs in CA1 PCs evoked by carbachol (commonly used to excite CCK+ interneurons) in ventral CA1 regions from epileptic mice versus sham controls. These findings suggest that loss of CCKBCs beyond the hippocampal lesion may contribute to hyperexcitability and compromised network oscillations in TLE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jin Kang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Ethan M Clement
- Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - In-Hyun Park
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Lazar John Greenfield
- Department of Neurology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Bret N Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Sang-Hun Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hampel P, Johne M, Gailus B, Vogel A, Schidlitzki A, Gericke B, Töllner K, Theilmann W, Käufer C, Römermann K, Kaila K, Löscher W. Deletion of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC1 results in a more severe epileptic phenotype in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 152:105297. [PMID: 33581254 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased neuronal expression of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC1 has been implicated in the generation of seizures and epilepsy. However, conclusions from studies on the NKCC1-specific inhibitor, bumetanide, are equivocal, which is a consequence of the multiple potential cellular targets and poor brain penetration of this drug. Here, we used Nkcc1 knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) littermate control mice to study the ictogenic and epileptogenic effects of intrahippocampal injection of kainate. Kainate (0.23 μg in 50 nl) induced limbic status epilepticus (SE) in both KO and WT mice with similar incidence, latency to SE onset, and SE duration, but the number of intermittent generalized convulsive seizures during SE was significantly higher in Nkcc1 KO mice, indicating increased SE severity. Following SE, spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) were recorded by continuous (24/7) video/EEG monitoring at 0-1, 4-5, and 12-13 weeks after kainate, using depth electrodes in the ipsilateral hippocampus. Latency to onset of electrographic SRS and the incidence of electrographic SRS were similar in WT and KO mice. However, the frequency of electrographic seizures was lower whereas the frequency of electroclinical seizures was higher in Nkcc1 KO mice, indicating a facilitated progression from electrographic to electroclinical seizures during chronic epilepsy, and a more severe epileptic phenotype, in the absence of NKCC1. The present findings suggest that NKCC1 is dispensable for the induction, progression and manifestation of epilepsy, and they do not support the widely held notion that inhibition of NKCC1 in the brain is a useful strategy for preventing or modifying epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Hampel
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany; Neurona Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marie Johne
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Björn Gailus
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexandra Vogel
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina Schidlitzki
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Birthe Gericke
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Töllner
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wiebke Theilmann
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christopher Käufer
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kerstin Römermann
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kai Kaila
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences and Neuroscience Center (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Christian CA, Reddy DS, Maguire J, Forcelli PA. Sex Differences in the Epilepsies and Associated Comorbidities: Implications for Use and Development of Pharmacotherapies. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 72:767-800. [PMID: 32817274 DOI: 10.1124/pr.119.017392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The epilepsies are common neurologic disorders characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures. Boys, girls, men, and women of all ages are affected by epilepsy and, in many cases, by associated comorbidities as well. The primary courses of treatment are pharmacological, dietary, and/or surgical, depending on several factors, including the areas of the brain affected and the severity of the epilepsy. There is a growing appreciation that sex differences in underlying brain function and in the neurobiology of epilepsy are important factors that should be accounted for in the design and development of new therapies. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on sex differences in epilepsy and associated comorbidities, with emphasis on those aspects most informative for the development of new pharmacotherapies. Particular focus is placed on sex differences in the prevalence and presentation of various focal and generalized epilepsies; psychiatric, cognitive, and physiologic comorbidities; catamenial epilepsy in women; sex differences in brain development; the neural actions of sex and stress hormones and their metabolites; and cellular mechanisms, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling and neuronal-glial interactions. Further attention placed on potential sex differences in epilepsies, comorbidities, and drug effects will enhance therapeutic options and efficacy for all patients with epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that often presents together with various comorbidities. The features of epilepsy and seizure activity as well as comorbid afflictions can vary between men and women. In this review, we discuss sex differences in types of epilepsies, associated comorbidities, pathophysiological mechanisms, and antiepileptic drug efficacy in both clinical patient populations and preclinical animal models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Christian
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Neuroscience Program, and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (C.A.C.); Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas (D.S.R.); Neuroscience Department, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (J.M.); and Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology and Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (P.A.F.)
| | - Doodipala Samba Reddy
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Neuroscience Program, and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (C.A.C.); Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas (D.S.R.); Neuroscience Department, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (J.M.); and Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology and Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (P.A.F.)
| | - Jamie Maguire
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Neuroscience Program, and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (C.A.C.); Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas (D.S.R.); Neuroscience Department, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (J.M.); and Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology and Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (P.A.F.)
| | - Patrick A Forcelli
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Neuroscience Program, and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (C.A.C.); Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas (D.S.R.); Neuroscience Department, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (J.M.); and Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology and Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (P.A.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Welzel L, Bergin DH, Schidlitzki A, Twele F, Johne M, Klein P, Löscher W. Systematic evaluation of rationally chosen multitargeted drug combinations: a combination of low doses of levetiracetam, atorvastatin and ceftriaxone exerts antiepileptogenic effects in a mouse model of acquired epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 149:105227. [PMID: 33347976 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Epileptogenesis, the gradual process that leads to epilepsy after brain injury or genetic mutations, is a complex network phenomenon, involving a variety of morphological, biochemical and functional brain alterations. Although risk factors for developing epilepsy are known, there is currently no treatment available to prevent epilepsy. We recently proposed a multitargeted, network-based approach to prevent epileptogenesis by rationally combining clinically available drugs and provided first proof-of-concept that this strategy is effective. Here we evaluated eight novel rationally chosen combinations of 14 drugs with mechanisms that target different epileptogenic processes. The combinations consisted of 2-4 different drugs per combination and were administered systemically over 5 days during the latent epileptogenic period in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of acquired temporal lobe epilepsy, starting 6 h after kainate. Doses and dosing intervals were based on previous pharmacokinetic and tolerability studies in mice. The incidence and frequency of spontaneous electrographic and electroclinical seizures were recorded by continuous (24/7) video linked EEG monitoring done for seven days at 4 and 12 weeks post-kainate, i.e., long after termination of drug treatment. Compared to vehicle controls, the most effective drug combination consisted of low doses of levetiracetam, atorvastatin and ceftriaxone, which markedly reduced the incidence of electrographic seizures (by 60%; p<0.05) and electroclinical seizures (by 100%; p<0.05) recorded at 12 weeks after kainate. This effect was lost when higher doses of the three drugs were administered, indicating a synergistic drug-drug interaction at the low doses. The potential mechanisms underlying this interaction are discussed. We have discovered a promising novel multitargeted combination treatment for modifying the development of acquired epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Welzel
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - David H Bergin
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina Schidlitzki
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Marie Johne
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Pavel Klein
- Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Li J, Leverton LK, Naganatanahalli LM, Christian-Hinman CA. Seizure burden fluctuates with the female reproductive cycle in a mouse model of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. Exp Neurol 2020; 334:113492. [PMID: 33007292 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Women with catamenial epilepsy often experience increased seizure burden near the time of ovulation (periovulatory) or menstruation (perimenstrual). To date, a rodent model of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) that exhibits similar endogenous fluctuations in seizures has not been identified. Here, we investigated whether seizure burden changes with the estrous cycle in the intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse model of TLE. Adult female IHKA mice and saline-injected controls were implanted with EEG electrodes in the ipsilateral hippocampus. At one and two months post-injection, 24/7 video-EEG recordings were collected and estrous cycle stage was assessed daily. Seizures were detected using a custom convolutional neural network machine learning process. Seizure burden was compared within each mouse between diestrus and combined proestrus and estrus days (pro/estrus) at two months post-injection. IHKA mice showed higher seizure burden on pro/estrus compared with diestrus, characterized by increased time in seizures and longer seizure duration. When all IHKA mice were included, no group differences were observed in seizure frequency or EEG power. However, increased baseline seizure burden on diestrus was correlated with larger cycle-associated differences, and when analyses were restricted to mice that showed the severe epilepsy typical of the IHKA model, increased seizure frequency on pro/estrus was also revealed. Controls showed no differences in EEG parameters with cycle stage. These results suggest that the stages of proestrus and estrus are associated with higher seizure burden in IHKA mice. The IHKA model may thus recapitulate at least some aspects of reproductive cycle-associated seizure clustering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Li
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Leanna K Leverton
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Laxmi Manisha Naganatanahalli
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Catherine A Christian-Hinman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Novel brain permeant mTORC1/2 inhibitors are as efficacious as rapamycin or everolimus in mouse models of acquired partial epilepsy and tuberous sclerosis complex. Neuropharmacology 2020; 180:108297. [PMID: 32890589 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cell proliferation, growth and survival, and is activated in cancer and neurological disorders, including epilepsy. The rapamycin derivative ("rapalog") everolimus, which allosterically inhibits the mTOR pathway, is approved for the treatment of partial epilepsy with spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) in individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). In contrast to the efficacy in TSC, the efficacy of rapalogs on SRS in other types of epilepsy is equivocal. Furthermore, rapalogs only poorly penetrate into the brain and are associated with peripheral adverse effects, which may compromise their therapeutic efficacy. Here we compare the antiseizure efficacy of two novel, brain-permeable ATP-competitive and selective mTORC1/2 inhibitors, PQR620 and PQR626, and the selective dual pan-PI3K/mTORC1/2 inhibitor PQR530 in two mouse models of chronic epilepsy with SRS, the intrahippocampal kainate (IHK) mouse model of acquired temporal lobe epilepsy and Tsc1GFAP CKO mice, a well-characterized mouse model of epilepsy in TSC. During prolonged treatment of IHK mice with rapamycin, everolimus, PQR620, PQR626, or PQR530; only PQR620 exerted a transient antiseizure effect on SRS, at well tolerated doses whereas the other compounds were ineffective. In contrast, all of the examined compounds markedly suppressed SRS in Tsc1GFAP CKO mice during chronic treatment at well tolerated doses. Thus, against our expectation, no clear differences in antiseizure efficacy were found across the three classes of mTOR inhibitors examined in mouse models of genetic and acquired epilepsies. The main advantage of the novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives is their excellent tolerability compared to rapalogs, which would favor their development as new therapies for TORopathies such as TSC.
Collapse
|
23
|
Polysialic acid and Siglec-E orchestrate negative feedback regulation of microglia activation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:1637-1653. [PMID: 32725371 PMCID: PMC7904730 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03601-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Polysialic acid (polySia) emerges as a novel regulator of microglia activity. We recently identified polysialylated proteins in the Golgi compartment of murine microglia that are released in response to inflammatory stimulation. Since exogenously added polySia is able to attenuate the inflammatory response, we proposed that the release of polysialylated proteins constitutes a mechanism for negative feedback regulation of microglia activation. Here, we demonstrate that translocation of polySia from the Golgi to the cell surface can be induced by calcium depletion of the Golgi compartment and that polysialylated proteins are continuously released for at least 24 h after the onset of inflammatory stimulation. The latter was unexpected, because polySia signals detected by immunocytochemistry are rapidly depleted. However, it indicates that the amount of released polySia is much higher than anticipated based on immunostaining. This may be crucial for microglial responses during traumatic brain injury (TBI), as we detected polySia signals in activated microglia around a stab wound in the adult mouse brain. In BV2 microglia, the putative polySia receptor Siglec-E is internalized during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation and in response to polySia exposure, indicating interaction. Correspondingly, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Siglec-E knockout prevents inhibition of pro inflammatory activation by exogenously added polySia and leads to a strong increase of the LPS response. A comparable increase of LPS-induced activation has been observed in microglia with abolished polySia synthesis. Together, these results indicate that the release of the microglia-intrinsic polySia pool, as implicated in TBI, inhibits the inflammatory response by acting as a trans-activating ligand of Siglec-E.
Collapse
|
24
|
Wolf BJ, Brackhan M, Bascuñana P, Leiter I, Langer BLN, Ross TL, Bankstahl JP, Bankstahl M. TSPO PET Identifies Different Anti-inflammatory Minocycline Treatment Response in Two Rodent Models of Epileptogenesis. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:1228-1238. [PMID: 31970667 PMCID: PMC7609777 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00834-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epileptogenesis-associated brain inflammation might be a promising target to prevent or attenuate epileptogenesis. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging targeting the translocator protein (TSPO) was applied here to quantify effects of different dosing regimens of the anti-inflammatory drug minocycline during the latent phase in two rodent models of epileptogenesis. After induction of epileptogenesis by status epilepticus (SE), rats were treated with minocycline for 7 days (25 or 50 mg/kg) and mice for 5 or 10 days (50 or 100 mg/kg). All animals were subjected to scans at 1 and 2 weeks post-SE. Radiotracer distribution was analyzed and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was performed, as well as histological analysis of astroglial activation and neuronal cell loss. Atlas-based analysis of [18F]GE180 PET in rats revealed a dose-dependent regional decrease of TSPO expression at 2 weeks post-SE. Results of SPM analysis depicted a treatment effect already at 1 week post-SE in rats treated with the higher minocycline dose. In mice, TSPO PET imaging did not reveal any treatment effects whereas histology identified only a treatment-related reduction in dispersion of dentate gyrus neurons. TSPO PET served as an auspicious tool for temporal monitoring and quantification of anti-inflammatory effects during epileptogenesis. Importantly, the findings underline the need to applying more than one animal model to avoid missing treatment effects. For future studies, the setup is ready to be applied in combination with seizure monitoring to investigate the relationship between individual early treatment response and disease outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bettina J Wolf
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mirjam Brackhan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pathology, Section of Neuropathology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pablo Bascuñana
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ina Leiter
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - B Laura N Langer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias L Ross
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens P Bankstahl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Marion Bankstahl
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Liu S, Jin Z, Zhang Y, Rong S, He W, Sun K, Wan D, Huo J, Xiao L, Li X, Ding N, Wang F, Sun T. The Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analogue Liraglutide Reduces Seizures Susceptibility, Cognition Dysfunction and Neuronal Apoptosis in a Mouse Model of Dravet Syndrome. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:136. [PMID: 32184723 PMCID: PMC7059191 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a refractory epilepsy typically caused by heterozygous mutations of the Scn1a gene, which encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.1. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues, effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of diabetes, have recently become attractive treatment modalities for patients with nervous system disease; however, the impact of GLP-1 analogues on DS remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the neuroprotective role of liraglutide in mouse and cell models of Scn1a KO-induced epilepsy. Epileptic susceptibility, behavioral changes, and behavioral seizures were assessed using electroencephalography (EEG), IntelliCage (TSE Systems, Bad Homburg, Germany), and the open field task. Morphological changes in brain tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Nissl staining. Expression of apoptosis-related proteins and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway were determined using immunofluorescence and western blotting in Scn1a KO-induced epileptic mice in vitro. Scn1a KO model cell proliferation was evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and the effect of liraglutide on cellular apoptosis levels was examined using Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry. Apoptotic signal proteins and mTOR were assessed using reverse transcription - quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Our results showed that liraglutide significantly increased mRNA ((0.31 ± 0.04) *10-3 vs. (1.07 ± 0.08) * 10-3, P = 0.0004) and protein (0.10 ± 0.02 vs. 0.27 ± 0.02, P = 0.0006) expression of Scn1a in Scn1a KO-induced epileptic mice. In addition, liraglutide significantly alleviated electroencephalographic seizures, the severity of responses to epileptic seizures (96.53 ± 0.45 % vs. 85.98 ± 1.24 %, P = 0.0003), cognitive dysfunction, and epileptic-related necrotic neurons (9.76 ± 0.91 % vs. 19.65 ± 2.64 %, P = 0.0005) in Scn1a KO-induced epileptic mice. Moreover, liraglutide protected against Scn1a KO-induced apoptosis, which was manifested in the phosphorylation of mTOR (KO+NS: 1.99 ± 0.31 vs. KO+Lira: 0.97 ± 0.18, P = 0.0004), as well as the downregulation of cleaved caspase-3 (KO+NS: 0.49 ± 0.04 vs. KO+Lira: 0.30 ± 0.01, P = 0.0003) and restoration of the imbalance between BAX (KO+NS: 0.90 ± 0.02 vs. KO+Lira: 0.75 ± 0.04, P = 0.0005) and BCL-2 (KO+NS: 0.46 ± 0.02 vs. KO+Lira: 0.61 ± 0.02, P = 0.0006). Collectively, these results show that liraglutide reduces seizure susceptibility and cognitive dysfunction in the mouse model of Dravet syndrome, and exerts anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects in Scn1a KO mice and cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shenhai Liu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Zhe Jin
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yiling Zhang
- Department of Integrated Medicine, Affiliated DongFeng Hospital, HuBei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - ShiKuo Rong
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Wenxin He
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Kuisheng Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Din Wan
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Junming Huo
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Lifei Xiao
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xinxiao Li
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Na Ding
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Welzel L, Schidlitzki A, Twele F, Anjum M, Löscher W. A face-to-face comparison of the intra-amygdala and intrahippocampal kainate mouse models of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and their utility for testing novel therapies. Epilepsia 2019; 61:157-170. [PMID: 31828786 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intracranial (intrahippocampal or intra-amygdala) administration of kainate in rodents leads to spatially restricted brain injury and development of focal epilepsy with characteristics that resemble mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Such rodent models are used both in the search for more effective antiseizure drugs (ASDs) and in the development of antiepileptogenic strategies. However, it is not clear which of the models is best suited for testing different types of epilepsy therapies. METHODS In the present study, we performed a face-to-face comparison of the intra-amygdala kainate (IAK) and intrahippocampal kainate (IHK) mouse models using the same mouse inbred strain (C57BL/6). For comparison, some experiments were performed in mouse outbred strains. RESULTS Intra-amygdala kainate injection led to more severe status epilepticus and higher mortality than intrahippocampal injection. In male C57BL/6 mice, the latent period to spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs) was short or absent in both models, whereas a significantly longer latent period was determined in NMRI and CD-1 outbred mice. When SRSs were recorded from the ipsilateral hippocampus, relatively frequent electroclinical seizures were determined in the IAK model, whereas only infrequent electroclinical seizures but extremely frequent focal electrographic seizures were determined in the IHK model. As a consequence of the differences in SRS frequency, prolonged video-electroencephalographic monitoring and drug administration were needed for testing efficacy of the benchmark ASD carbamazepine in the IAK model, whereas acute drug testing was possible in the IHK model. In both models, carbamazepine was only effective at high doses, indicating ASD resistance to this benchmark drug. SIGNIFICANCE We found a variety of significant differences between the IAK and IHK models, which are important when deciding which of these models is best suited for studies on novel epilepsy therapies. The IAK model appears particularly interesting for studies on disease-modifying treatments, whereas the IHK model is well suited for studying the antiseizure activity of novel ASDs against difficult-to-treated focal seizures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Welzel
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina Schidlitzki
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Muneeb Anjum
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Schidlitzki A, Bascuñana P, Srivastava PK, Welzel L, Twele F, Töllner K, Käufer C, Gericke B, Feleke R, Meier M, Polyak A, Ross TL, Gerhauser I, Bankstahl JP, Johnson MR, Bankstahl M, Löscher W. Proof-of-concept that network pharmacology is effective to modify development of acquired temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104664. [PMID: 31678583 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a complex network phenomenon that, as yet, cannot be prevented or cured. We recently proposed network-based approaches to prevent epileptogenesis. For proof of concept we combined two drugs (levetiracetam and topiramate) for which in silico analysis of drug-protein interaction networks indicated a synergistic effect on a large functional network of epilepsy-relevant proteins. Using the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy, the drug combination was administered during the latent period before onset of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). When SRS were periodically recorded by video-EEG monitoring after termination of treatment, a significant decrease in incidence and frequency of SRS was determined, indicating antiepileptogenic efficacy. Such efficacy was not observed following single drug treatment. Furthermore, a combination of levetiracetam and phenobarbital, for which in silico analysis of drug-protein interaction networks did not indicate any significant drug-drug interaction, was not effective to modify development of epilepsy. Surprisingly, the promising antiepileptogenic effect of the levetiracetam/topiramate combination was obtained in the absence of any significant neuroprotective or anti-inflammatory effects as indicated by multimodal brain imaging and histopathology. High throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of the ipsilateral hippocampus of mice treated with the levetiracetam/topiramate combination showed that several genes that have been linked previously to epileptogenesis, were significantly differentially expressed, providing interesting entry points for future mechanistic studies. Overall, we have discovered a novel combination treatment with promise for prevention of epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Schidlitzki
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Pablo Bascuñana
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | | | - Lisa Welzel
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Töllner
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christopher Käufer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Birthe Gericke
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Rahel Feleke
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martin Meier
- Central Animal Facility & Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andras Polyak
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Tobias L Ross
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Ingo Gerhauser
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens P Bankstahl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | | | - Marion Bankstahl
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Central Animal Facility & Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Gericke B, Brandt C, Theilmann W, Welzel L, Schidlitzki A, Twele F, Kaczmarek E, Anjum M, Hillmann P, Löscher W. Selective inhibition of mTORC1/2 or PI3K/mTORC1/2 signaling does not prevent or modify epilepsy in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model. Neuropharmacology 2019; 162:107817. [PMID: 31654704 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway has been implicated in several brain disorders, including epilepsy. Rapamycin and similar compounds inhibit mTOR. complex 1 and have been reported to decrease seizures, delay seizure development, or prevent epileptogenesis in different animal models of genetic or acquired epilepsies. However, data for acquired epilepsy are inconsistent, which, at least in part, may be due to the poor brain penetration and long brain persistence of rapamycin and the fact that it blocks only one of the two cellular mTOR complexes. Here we examined the antiepileptogenic or disease-modifying effects of two novel, brain-permeable and well tolerated 1,3,5-triazine derivatives, the ATP-competitive mTORC1/2 inhibitor PQR620 and the dual pan-PI3K/mTORC1/2 inhibitor PQR530 in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model, in which spontaneous seizures develop after status epilepticus (SE). Following kainate injection, the two compounds were administered over 2 weeks at doses previously been shown to block mTORC1/2 or PI3K/mTORC1/2 in the mouse brain. When spontaneous seizures were recorded by continuous (24/7) video-EEG recording starting 6 weeks after termination of treatment, no effects on incidence or frequency of seizures were observed. Drug treatment suppressed the epilepsy-induced activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in the hippocampus, but granule cell dispersion in the dentate gyrus was not prevented. When epilepsy-associated behavioral alterations were determined 12-14 weeks after kainate, mice pretreated with PQR620 or PQR530 exhibited reduced anxiety-related behavior in the light-dark box, indicating a disease-modifying effect. Overall, the data indicate that mTORC1/C2 or PI3K/mTORC1/C2 inhibition may not be an antiepileptogenic strategy for SE-induced epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Birthe Gericke
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Claudia Brandt
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Wiebke Theilmann
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Lisa Welzel
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina Schidlitzki
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Edith Kaczmarek
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Muneeb Anjum
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kim JY, Kim JH, Lee HJ, Kim SH, Jung YJ, Lee HY, Kim HJ, Kim SY. Antiepileptic and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of red ginseng in an intrahippocampal kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated by electroencephalography. Yeungnam Univ J Med 2019; 35:192-198. [PMID: 31620593 PMCID: PMC6784711 DOI: 10.12701/yujm.2018.35.2.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic inflammation can lower the seizure threshold and have influence on epileptogenesis. The components of red ginseng (RG) have anti-inflammatory effects. The abundance of peripherally derived immune cells in resected epileptic tissue suggests that the immune system is a potential target for anti-epileptogenic therapies. The present study used continuous electroencephalography (EEG) to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of RG in intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods Prolonged status epilepticus (SE) was induced in 7-week-old C57BL/6J mice via stereotaxic injection of kainic acid (KA, 150 nL; 1 mg/mL) into the right CA3/dorsal hippocampus. The animals were implanted electrodes and monitored for spontaneous seizures. Following the IHKA injections, one group received treatments of RG (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks (RG group, n=7) while another group received valproic acid (VPA, 30 mg/kg/day) (VPA group, n=7). Laboratory findings and pathological results were assessed at D29 and continuous (24 h/week) EEG monitoring was used to evaluate high-voltage sharp waves on D7, D14, D21, and D28. Results At D29, there were no differences between the groups in liver function test but RG group had higher blood urea nitrogen levels. Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that RG reduced the infiltration of immune cells into the brain and EEG analyses showed that it had anticonvulsant effects. Conclusion Repeated treatments with RG after IHKA-induced SE decreased immune cell infiltration into the brain and resulted in a marked decrease in electrographic seizures. RG had anticonvulsant effects that were similar to those of VPA without serious side effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ju Young Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jin Hyeon Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hee Jin Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Young Jin Jung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hee-Young Lee
- Laboratory Animal Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hee Jaung Kim
- Laboratory Animal Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, Korea
| | - Sae Yoon Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Neuronal network remodeling and Wnt pathway dysregulation in the intra-hippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215789. [PMID: 31596871 PMCID: PMC6785072 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy recapitulate aspects of human epilepsy, which is characterized by neuronal network remodeling in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Observational studies suggest that this remodeling is associated with altered Wnt pathway signaling, although this has not been experimentally examined. We used the well-characterized mouse intrahippocampal kainate model of temporal lobe epilepsy to examine associations between hippocampal neurogenesis and altered Wnt signaling after seizure induction. Tissue was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, and gene expression analysis was performed by RT-qPCR on RNA extracted from anatomically micro-dissected dentate gyri. Seizures increased neurogenesis and dendritic arborization of newborn hippocampal dentate granule cells in peri-ictal regions, and decreased neurogenesis in the ictal zone, 2-weeks after kainate injection. Interestingly, administration of the novel canonical Wnt pathway inhibitor XAV939 daily for 2-weeks after kainate injection further increased dendritic arborization in peri-ictal regions after seizure, without an effect on baseline neurogenesis in control animals. Transcriptome analysis of dentate gyri demonstrated significant canonical Wnt gene dysregulation in kainate-injected mice across all regions for Wnt3, 5a and 9a. Intriguingly, certain Wnt genes demonstrated differential patterns of dysregulation between the ictal and peri-ictal zones, most notably Wnt5B, 7B and DKK-1. Together, these results demonstrate regional variation in Wnt pathway dysregulation early after seizure induction, and surprisingly, suggest that some Wnt-mediated effects might actually temper aberrant neurogenesis after seizures. The Wnt pathway may therefore provide suitable targets for novel therapies that prevent network remodeling and the development of epileptic foci in high-risk patients.
Collapse
|
31
|
Li F, Liu L. Comparison of kainate-induced seizures, cognitive impairment and hippocampal damage in male and female mice. Life Sci 2019; 232:116621. [PMID: 31269415 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Kainate (KA) mouse model induced by intraperitoneal injection has been widely used for epilepsy and neurodegeneration studies. KA elicits sustained epileptic activity in mouse brain revealed by recurrent behavioral seizures, deteriorative neurodegeneration and various neurological deficits. However, to date, the vast majority of the studies used male mice only, and few studies on the comparison of brain injury between male and female mice in this model were reported. Epidemiological studies indicate that sex may affect the susceptibility to seizure response and neurodegeneration process. Therefore, this study focused on the effect of sex difference on KA-induced recurrent seizures and mortality, locomotor activity and cognitive impairment, and hippocampal neurodegeneration and reactive gliosis in mice. Our results showed that, compared to females, adult male mice exhibited worse performance in mortality rate, severity of epileptic seizures, and cognitive impairment indicated by novel object recognition task. Unexpectedly, post-KA male and female mice underwent similar decline and recovery of locomotor activity. KA-induced neurodegeneration in the whole hippocampus, particularly in CA1 and CA3 subregions, along with the deteriorative reactive gliosis in astrocytes and microglia, was more severe in males than that in females. These data provided the direct in vivo evidence that indicates the key role of sex difference in studies with KA mouse model, and this could be beneficial for optimizing the design of future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengling Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Linyi Tumor Hospital, Linyi, Shandong 276001, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Girard B, Tuduri P, Moreno MP, Sakkaki S, Barboux C, Bouschet T, Varrault A, Vitre J, McCort-Tranchepain I, Dairou J, Acher F, Fagni L, Marchi N, Perroy J, Bertaso F. The mGlu7 receptor provides protective effects against epileptogenesis and epileptic seizures. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 129:13-28. [PMID: 31051234 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Finding new targets to control or reduce seizure activity is essential to improve the management of epileptic patients. We hypothesized that activation of the pre-synaptic and inhibitory metabotropic glutamate receptor type 7 (mGlu7) reduces spontaneous seizures. We tested LSP2-9166, a recently developed mGlu7/4 agonist with unprecedented potency on mGlu7 receptors, in two paradigms of epileptogenesis. In a model of chemically induced epileptogenesis (pentylenetetrazole systemic injection), LSP2-9166 induces an anti-epileptogenic effect rarely observed in preclinical studies. In particular, we found a bidirectional modulation of seizure progression by mGlu4 and mGlu7 receptors, the latter preventing kindling. In the intra-hippocampal injection of kainic acid mouse model that mimics the human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, we found that LSP2-9166 reduces seizure frequency and hippocampal sclerosis. LSP2-9166 also acts as an anti-seizure drug on established seizures in both models tested. Specific modulation of the mGlu7 receptor could represent a novel approach to reduce pathological network remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Girard
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pola Tuduri
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Sophie Sakkaki
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Annie Varrault
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jihane Vitre
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | | | - Laurent Fagni
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicola Marchi
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Julie Perroy
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Welzel L, Twele F, Schidlitzki A, Töllner K, Klein P, Löscher W. Network pharmacology for antiepileptogenesis: Tolerability and neuroprotective effects of novel multitargeted combination treatments in nonepileptic vs. post-status epilepticus mice. Epilepsy Res 2019; 151:48-66. [PMID: 30831337 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Network-based approaches in drug discovery comprise both development of novel drugs interacting with multiple targets and repositioning of drugs with known targets to form novel drug combinations that interact with cellular or molecular networks whose function is disturbed in a disease. Epilepsy is a complex network phenomenon that, as yet, cannot be prevented or cured. We recently proposed multitargeted, network-based approaches to prevent epileptogenesis by combinations of clinically available drugs chosen to impact diverse epileptogenic processes. In order to test this strategy preclinically, we developed a multiphase sequential study design for evaluating such drug combinations in rodents, derived from human clinical drug development phases. Because pharmacokinetics of such drugs are known, only the tolerability of novel drug combinations needs to be evaluated in Phase I in öhealthy" controls. In Phase IIa, tolerability is assessed following an epileptogenic brain insult, followed by antiepileptogenic efficacy testing in Phase IIb. Here, we report Phase I and Phase IIa evaluation of 7 new drug combinations in mice, using 10 drugs (levetiracetam, topiramate, gabapentin, deferoxamine, fingolimod, ceftriaxone, α-tocopherol, melatonin, celecoxib, atorvastatin) with diverse mechanisms thought to be important in epileptogenesis. Six of the 7 drug combinations were well tolerated in mice during prolonged treatment at the selected doses in both controls and during the latent phase following status epilepticus induced by intrahippocampal kainate. However, none of the combinations prevented hippocampal damage in response to kainate, most likely because treatment started only 16-18 h after kainate. This suggests that antiepileptogenic or disease-modifying treatment may need to start earlier after the brain insult. The present data provide a rich collection of tolerable, network-based combinatorial therapies as a basis for antiepileptogenic or disease-modifying efficacy testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Welzel
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina Schidlitzki
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Töllner
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Pavel Klein
- Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Maciąg F, Majewski Ł, Boguszewski PM, Gupta RK, Wasilewska I, Wojtaś B, Kuznicki J. Behavioral and electrophysiological changes in female mice overexpressing ORAI1 in neurons. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2019; 1866:1137-1150. [PMID: 30659848 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Orai proteins form highly selective Ca2+ release-activated channels (CRACs). They play a critical role in store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE; i.e., the influx of external Ca2+ that is induced by the depletion of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores). Of the three Orai homologs that are present in mammals (Orai1-3), the physiological function of Orai1 is the best described. CRACs are formed by both homomeric assemblies and heteromultimers of Orais. Orai1 and Orai2 can form heteromeric channels that differ in conductivity during SOCE, depending on their Orai1-to-Orai2 ratio. The present study explored the potential consequences of ORAI1 overexpression in neurons where the dominant isoform is Orai2. We established the Tg(ORAI1)Ibd transgenic mouse line that overexpresses ORAI1 in brain neurons. We observed seizure-like symptoms in aged (≥15-month-old) female mice but not in males of the same age. The application of kainic acid and bicuculline to slices that were isolated from 8-month-old (±1 month) female Tg(ORAI1)Ibd mice revealed a significantly lower frequency of interictal bursts compared with samples that were isolated from wildtype mice. No differences were observed in male mice of a similar age. A battery of behavioral tests showed that context recognition decreased only in female transgenic mice. The phenotype that was observed in female mice suggests that ORAI1 overexpression may affect neuronal activity in a sex-dependent manner. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: ECS Meeting edited by Claus Heizmann, Joachim Krebs and Jacques Haiech.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filip Maciąg
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 4 Ks. Trojdena Str., Warsaw 02-109, Poland
| | - Łukasz Majewski
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 4 Ks. Trojdena Str., Warsaw 02-109, Poland.
| | - Paweł M Boguszewski
- Laboratory of Animal Models, Neurobiology Centre, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Str., Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Rishikesh Kumar Gupta
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 4 Ks. Trojdena Str., Warsaw 02-109, Poland
| | - Iga Wasilewska
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 4 Ks. Trojdena Str., Warsaw 02-109, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wojtaś
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Neurobiology Centre, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Kuznicki
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 4 Ks. Trojdena Str., Warsaw 02-109, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Santos VR, Kobayashi I, Hammack R, Danko G, Forcelli PA. Impact of strain, sex, and estrous cycle on gamma butyrolactone-evoked absence seizures in rats. Epilepsy Res 2018; 147:62-70. [PMID: 30261353 PMCID: PMC6226012 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is the most common pediatric epilepsy syndrome and is characterized by typical absence seizures (AS). AS are non-convulsive epileptic seizures characterized by a sudden loss of awareness and bilaterally generalized synchronous 2.5-4 Hz spike and slow-wave discharges (SWD). Gamma butyrolactone (GBL) is an acute pharmacological model of AS and induces bilaterally synchronous SWDs and behavioral arrest. Despite the long use of this model, little is known about its strain and sex-dependent features. We compared the dose-response profile of GBL-evoked SWDs in three rat strains (Long Evans, Sprague-Dawley, and Wistar), and examined the modulatory effects of estrous cycle on SWDs in female Wistar rats. We evaluated the number of seizures, the cumulative time seizing, and the average seizure duration as a function of dose, strain, and sex/estrous phase. Long Evans rats displayed the greatest sensitivity to GBL, followed by Wistar rats, and then by Sprague-Dawley rats. GBL-evoked SWDs were modulated by estrous cycle in female rats, with the lowest sensitivity to GBL occurring during metestrus. Wistar rats showed the greatest variability as a function of dose, and the least variability within dose; these features make this strain desirable for interventional studies. Moreover, our finding that the SWD response to GBL differs as a function of estrous cycle underscores the importance of cycle monitoring in studies examining female animals using this model. Together, these strain and sex-dependent findings provide guidance for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor R Santos
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Ihori Kobayashi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Robert Hammack
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Gregory Danko
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Patrick A Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University School of Medicine, United States; Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University School of Medicine, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Brenner M, Messing A, Olsen ML. AP-1 and the injury response of the GFAP gene. J Neurosci Res 2018; 97:149-161. [PMID: 30345544 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Increased GFAP gene expression is a common feature of CNS injury, resulting in its use as a reporter to investigate mechanisms producing gliosis. AP-1 transcription factors are among those proposed to participate in mediating the reactive response. Prior studies found a consensus AP-1 binding site in the GFAP promoter to be essential for activity of reporter constructs transfected into cultured cells, but to have little to no effect on basal transgene expression in mice. Since cultured astrocytes display some properties of reactive astrocytes, these findings suggested that AP-1 transcription factors are critical for the upregulation of GFAP in injury, but not for its resting level of expression. We have examined this possibility by comparing the injury response in mice of lacZ transgenes driven by human GFAP promoters that contain the wild-type AP-1 binding site to those in which the site is mutated. An intact AP-1 site was found critical for a GFAP promoter response to the three different injury models used: physical trauma produced by cryoinjury, seizures produced by kainic acid, and chronic gliosis produced in an Alexander disease model. An unexpected additional finding was that the responses of the lacZ transgenes driven by the wild-type promoters were substantially less than that of the endogenous mouse GFAP gene. This suggests that the GFAP gene has previously unrecognized injury-responsive elements that reside further upstream of the transcription start site than the 2.2 kb present in the GFAP promoter segments used here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Brenner
- Department of Neurobiology and the Civitan International Research Center, Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Albee Messing
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Michelle L Olsen
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Targeting the Mouse Ventral Hippocampus in the Intrahippocampal Kainic Acid Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-NWR-0158-18. [PMID: 30131968 PMCID: PMC6102375 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0158-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we describe a novel mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) that moves the site of kainate injection from the rodent dorsal hippocampus (corresponding to the human posterior hippocampus) to the ventral hippocampus (corresponding to the human anterior hippocampus). We compare the phenotypes of this new model—with respect to seizures, cognitive impairment, affective deficits, and histopathology—to the standard dorsal intrahippocampal kainate model. Our results demonstrate that histopathological measures of granule cell dispersion and mossy fiber sprouting maximize near the site of kainate injection. Somewhat surprisingly, both the dorsal and ventral models exhibit similar spatial memory impairments in addition to similar electrographic and behavioral seizure burdens. In contrast, we find a more pronounced affective (anhedonic) phenotype specifically in the ventral model. These results demonstrate that the ventral intrahippocampal kainic acid model recapitulates critical pathologies of the dorsal model while providing a means to further study affective phenotypes such as depression in TLE.
Collapse
|
38
|
Baccus B, Auvin S, Dorandeu F. Electro-behavioral phenotype and cell injury following exposure to paraoxon-ethyl in mice: Effect of the genetic background. Chem Biol Interact 2018; 290:119-125. [PMID: 29800574 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Organophosphorus compounds (OP) are irreversible inhibitors of both central and peripheral cholinesterases (ChE). They still represent a major health issue in some countries as well as a terrorist and military threat. In order to design appropriate medical counter-measures, a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the poisoning is needed. Little to nothing is known regarding the impact of the genetic background on OP-induced seizures and seizure-related cell injury. Using two different mouse strains, Swiss and C57BL/6J, exposed to a convulsing dose of the OP pesticide paraoxon-ethyl (POX), our study focused on seizure susceptibility, especially the occurrence of SE and related mortality. We also evaluated the initial neuropathological response and SE-induced cell injury. Following the administration of 2.4 mg/kg POX, more Swiss mice experienced SE than C57BL/6J (55.6% versus 17.2%) but the duration of their SE, based on EEG recordings, was shorter (64.3 ± 19.5 min versus 180.8 ± 36.8 min). No significant difference was observed between strains regarding mortality (33% versus 14%). In both strains limited cell injury was observed in the medial temporal cortex, the dentate gyrus and the CA3 field without inter-strain differences (Fluorojade C-positive cells/mm2). Conversely, only C57BL/6J mice showed cell injury in the CA1 field. There was no obvious correlation between the number of Fluorojade C-positive cells and the duration of the EEG discharges. Our work suggests some differences between Swiss and C57BL/6J mice and lay ground to further studies on the impact of strains in the development of central nervous system toxicity of OP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Baccus
- Institut de recherche biomédicale des armées (French armed forces biomedical research institute), 1 Place Général Valérie André, BP 73, 91223 Brétigny sur Orge cedex, France; Inserm U1141, Hôpital Robert Debré, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France; Ecole du Val de Grâce, 1 Place Alphonse Laveran, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Stéphane Auvin
- Inserm U1141, Hôpital Robert Debré, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Dorandeu
- Institut de recherche biomédicale des armées (French armed forces biomedical research institute), 1 Place Général Valérie André, BP 73, 91223 Brétigny sur Orge cedex, France; Ecole du Val de Grâce, 1 Place Alphonse Laveran, 75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Epilepsy affects all age groups and is one of the most common and most disabling neurological disorders. The accurate diagnosis of seizures is essential as some patients will be misdiagnosed with epilepsy, whereas others will receive an incorrect diagnosis. Indeed, errors in diagnosis are common, and many patients fail to receive the correct treatment, which often has severe consequences. Although many patients have seizure control using a single medication, others require multiple medications, resective surgery, neuromodulation devices or dietary therapies. In addition, one-third of patients will continue to have uncontrolled seizures. Epilepsy can substantially impair quality of life owing to seizures, comorbid mood and psychiatric disorders, cognitive deficits and adverse effects of medications. In addition, seizures can be fatal owing to direct effects on autonomic and arousal functions or owing to indirect effects such as drowning and other accidents. Deciphering the pathophysiology of epilepsy has advanced the understanding of the cellular and molecular events initiated by pathogenetic insults that transform normal circuits into epileptic circuits (epileptogenesis) and the mechanisms that generate seizures (ictogenesis). The discovery of >500 genes associated with epilepsy has led to new animal models, more precise diagnoses and, in some cases, targeted therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orrin Devinsky
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Annamaria Vezzani
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS 'Mario Negri' Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Departments of Neurology and Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nathalie Jette
- Department of Neurology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, and Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marco de Curtis
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Piero Perucca
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Departments of Neurology and Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Brackhan M, Bascuñana P, Ross TL, Bengel FM, Bankstahl JP, Bankstahl M. [18
F]GE180 positron emission tomographic imaging indicates a potential double-hit insult in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2018; 59:617-626. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.14009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Brackhan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; Hannover Medical School; Hannover Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy; University of Veterinary Medicine; Hannover Germany
| | - Pablo Bascuñana
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; Hannover Medical School; Hannover Germany
| | - Tobias L. Ross
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; Hannover Medical School; Hannover Germany
| | - Frank M. Bengel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; Hannover Medical School; Hannover Germany
| | - Jens P. Bankstahl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; Hannover Medical School; Hannover Germany
| | - Marion Bankstahl
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy; University of Veterinary Medicine; Hannover Germany
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Sieu LA, Eugène E, Bonnot A, Cohen I. Disrupted Co-activation of Interneurons and Hippocampal Network after Focal Kainate Lesion. Front Neural Circuits 2017; 11:87. [PMID: 29180954 PMCID: PMC5693904 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAergic interneurons are known to control activity balance in physiological conditions and to coordinate hippocampal networks during cognitive tasks. In temporal lobe epilepsy interneuron loss and consecutive network imbalance could favor pathological hypersynchronous epileptic discharges. We tested this hypothesis in mice by in vivo unilateral epileptogenic hippocampal kainate lesion followed by in vitro recording of extracellular potentials and patch-clamp from GFP-expressing interneurons in CA3, in an optimized recording chamber. Slices from lesioned mice displayed, in addition to control synchronous events, larger epileptiform discharges. Despite some ipsi/contralateral and layer variation, interneuron density tended to decrease, average soma size to increase. Their membrane resistance decreased, capacitance increased and contralateral interneuron required higher current intensity to fire action potentials. Examination of synchronous discharges of control and larger amplitudes, revealed that interneurons were biased to fire predominantly with the largest population discharges. Altogether, these observations suggest that the overall effect of reactive cell loss, hypertrophy and reduced contralateral excitability corresponds to interneuron activity tuning to fire with larger population discharges. Such cellular and network mechanisms may contribute to a runaway path toward epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lim-Anna Sieu
- Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, UPMC/INSERM UMRS1130/CNRS UMR8246, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.,Neuroscience Paris Seine (UMR-S 1130), Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Eugène
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer à Moulin, UPMC/INSERM UMRS839, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Bonnot
- Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, UPMC/INSERM UMRS1130/CNRS UMR8246, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.,Neuroscience Paris Seine (UMR-S 1130), Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Ivan Cohen
- Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, UPMC/INSERM UMRS1130/CNRS UMR8246, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.,Neuroscience Paris Seine (UMR-S 1130), Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, INSERM, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Schidlitzki A, Twele F, Klee R, Waltl I, Römermann K, Bröer S, Meller S, Gerhauser I, Rankovic V, Li D, Brandt C, Bankstahl M, Töllner K, Löscher W. A combination of NMDA and AMPA receptor antagonists retards granule cell dispersion and epileptogenesis in a model of acquired epilepsy. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12191. [PMID: 28939854 PMCID: PMC5610327 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12368-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy may arise following acute brain insults, but no treatments exist that prevent epilepsy in patients at risk. Here we examined whether a combination of two glutamate receptor antagonists, NBQX and ifenprodil, acting at different receptor subtypes, exerts antiepileptogenic effects in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of epilepsy. These drugs were administered over 5 days following kainate. Spontaneous seizures were recorded by video/EEG at different intervals up to 3 months. Initial trials showed that drug treatment during the latent period led to higher mortality than treatment after onset of epilepsy, and further, that combined therapy with both drugs caused higher mortality at doses that appear safe when used singly. We therefore refined the combined-drug protocol, using lower doses. Two weeks after kainate, significantly less mice of the NBQX/ifenprodil group exhibited electroclinical seizures compared to vehicle controls, but this effect was lost at subsequent weeks. The disease modifying effect of the treatment was associated with a transient prevention of granule cell dispersion and less neuronal degeneration in the dentate hilus. These data substantiate the involvement of altered glutamatergic transmission in the early phase of epileptogenesis. Longer treatment with NBQX and ifenprodil may shed further light on the apparent temporal relationship between dentate gyrus reorganization and development of spontaneous seizures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Schidlitzki
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rebecca Klee
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Inken Waltl
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kerstin Römermann
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sonja Bröer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian Meller
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ingo Gerhauser
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vladan Rankovic
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience at University Medical Center Göttingen & German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dandan Li
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Claudia Brandt
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marion Bankstahl
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Töllner
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Inhibition of IL-1β Signaling Normalizes NMDA-Dependent Neurotransmission and Reduces Seizure Susceptibility in a Mouse Model of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. J Neurosci 2017; 37:10278-10289. [PMID: 28924012 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1301-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by prion protein (PrP) misfolding, clinically recognized by cognitive and motor deficits, electroencephalographic abnormalities, and seizures. Its neurophysiological bases are not known. To assess the potential involvement of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction, we analyzed NMDA-dependent synaptic plasticity in hippocampal slices from Tg(CJD) mice, which model a genetic form of CJD. Because PrP depletion may result in functional upregulation of NMDARs, we also analyzed PrP knock-out (KO) mice. Long-term potentiation (LTP) at the Schaffer collateral-commissural synapses in the CA1 area of ∼100-d-old Tg(CJD) mice was comparable to that of wild-type (WT) controls, but there was an inversion of metaplasticity, with increased GluN2B phosphorylation, which is indicative of enhanced NMDAR activation. Similar but less marked changes were seen in PrP KO mice. At ∼300 d of age, the magnitude of LTP increased in Tg(CJD) mice but decreased in PrP KO mice, indicating divergent changes in hippocampal synaptic responsiveness. Tg(CJD) but not PrP KO mice were intrinsically more susceptible than WT controls to focal hippocampal seizures induced by kainic acid. IL-1β-positive astrocytes increased in the Tg(CJD) hippocampus, and blocking IL-1 receptor signaling restored normal synaptic responses and reduced seizure susceptibility. These results indicate that alterations in NMDA-dependent glutamatergic transmission in Tg(CJD) mice do not depend solely on PrP functional loss. Moreover, astrocytic IL-1β plays a role in the enhanced synaptic responsiveness and seizure susceptibility, suggesting that targeting IL-1β signaling may offer a novel symptomatic treatment for CJD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dementia and myoclonic jerks develop in individuals with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), an incurable brain disorder caused by alterations in prion protein structure. These individuals are prone to seizures and have high brain levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Here we show that blocking IL-1β receptors with anakinra, the human recombinant form of the endogenous IL-1 receptor antagonist used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, normalizes hippocampal neurotransmission and reduces seizure susceptibility in a CJD mouse model. These results link neuroinflammation to defective neurotransmission and the enhanced susceptibility to seizures in CJD and raise the possibility that targeting IL-1β with clinically available drugs may be beneficial for symptomatic treatment of the disease.
Collapse
|
44
|
Chen YC, Zhu GY, Wang X, Shi L, Du TT, Liu DF, Liu YY, Jiang Y, Zhang X, Zhang JG. Anterior thalamic nuclei deep brain stimulation reduces disruption of the blood-brain barrier, albumin extravasation, inflammation and apoptosis in kainic acid-induced epileptic rats. Neurol Res 2017; 39:1103-1113. [PMID: 28918702 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2017.1379241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Objective The therapeutic efficacy of anterior thalamic nuclei deep brain stimulation (ATN-DBS) against seizures has been largely accepted; however, the effects of ATN-DBS on disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), albumin extravasation, inflammation and apoptosis still remain unclear. Methods Rats were distributed into four treatment groups: physiological saline (PS, N = 12), kainic acid (KA, N = 12), KA-sham-DBS (N = 12) and KA-DBS (N = 12). Seizures were monitored using video-electroencephalogram (EEG). One day after surgery, all rats were sacrificed. Then, samples were prepared for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), western blot, immunofluorescence (IF) staining, and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the disruption of the BBB, albumin extravasation, inflammation, and apoptosis. Result Because of the KA injection, the disruption of the BBB, albumin extravasation, inflammation and apoptosis were more severe in the KA and the KA-sham-DBS groups compared to the PS group (all Ps < 0.05 or < 0.01). The ideal outcomes were observed in the KA-DBS group. ATN-DBS produced a 46.3% reduction in seizure frequency and alleviated the disruption of the BBB, albumin extravasation, inflammatory reaction and apoptosis in comparison to the KA-sham-DBS group (all Ps < 0.05 or < 0.01). Conclusion (1) Seizures can be reduced using ATN-DBS in the epileptogenic stage. (2) ATN-DBS can reduce the disruption of the BBB and albumin extravasation. (3) ATN-DBS has an anti-inflammatory effect in epileptic models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chuan Chen
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Guan-Yu Zhu
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Xiu Wang
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Lin Shi
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Ting-Ting Du
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - De-Feng Liu
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Yu-Ye Liu
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Yin Jiang
- b Department of Functional Neurosurgery , Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Xin Zhang
- b Department of Functional Neurosurgery , Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Jian-Guo Zhang
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.,b Department of Functional Neurosurgery , Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.,c Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurostimulation , Beijing , China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Löscher W, Ferland RJ, Ferraro TN. The relevance of inter- and intrastrain differences in mice and rats and their implications for models of seizures and epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2017; 73. [PMID: 28651171 PMCID: PMC5909069 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly clear that the genetic background of mice and rats, even in inbred strains, can have a profound influence on measures of seizure susceptibility and epilepsy. These differences can be capitalized upon through genetic mapping studies to reveal genes important for seizures and epilepsy. However, strain background and particularly mixed genetic backgrounds of transgenic animals need careful consideration in both the selection of strains and in the interpretation of results and conclusions. For instance, mice with targeted deletions of genes involved in epilepsy can have profoundly disparate phenotypes depending on the background strain. In this review, we discuss findings related to how this genetic heterogeneity has and can be utilized in the epilepsy field to reveal novel insights into seizures and epilepsy. Moreover, we discuss how caution is needed in regards to rodent strain or even animal vendor choice, and how this can significantly influence seizure and epilepsy parameters in unexpected ways. This is particularly critical in decisions regarding the strain of choice used in generating mice with targeted deletions of genes. Finally, we discuss the role of environment (at vendor and/or laboratory) and epigenetic factors for inter- and intrastrain differences and how such differences can affect the expression of seizures and the animals' performance in behavioral tests that often accompany acute and chronic seizure testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Russell J Ferland
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States; Department of Neurology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Thomas N Ferraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Chen YC, Shi L, Zhu GY, Wang X, Liu DF, Liu YY, Jiang Y, Zhang X, Zhang JG. Effects of anterior thalamic nuclei deep brain stimulation on neurogenesis in epileptic and healthy rats. Brain Res 2017; 1672:65-72. [PMID: 28764934 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficacy of anterior thalamic nuclei (ANT) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in mitigating epileptic seizures has been established. Though the neuroprotection of ANT-DBS has been illustrated, the seizure mitigating mechanism of ANT-DBS has not been thoroughly elucidated. In particular, the effect of ANT-DBS on neurogenesis has not been reported previously. METHOD Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-DBS-healthy (HL) (n=8), DBS-HL (n=8), sham-DBS-epilepsy (EP) (n=8) and DBS-EP (n=8). Normal saline and kainic acid were injected, respectively, into the former and later two groups, and seizures were monitored. One month later, rats received electrode implantation. Stimulation was exerted in the DBS group but not in the sham-DBS group. Next, all rats were sacrificed, and the ipsilateral hippocampus was dissected and prepared for quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) and western blot analysis in order to measure neuronal nuclear (NeuN), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), doublecortin (DCX) and Ki-67 expressions. RESULTS A 44.4% seizure frequency reduction was obtained after ANT-DBS, and no seizures was observed in healthy rats. NeuN, BDNF, Ki-67 and DCX expression levels were significantly decreased in the epileptic rats compared to healthy rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Obvious increases in NeuN, Ki-67 and DCX expressions were observed in epileptic and healthy rats receiving stimulation compared to rats receiving no stimulation (all Ps<0.01). However, BDNF expression was not affected by ANT-DBS (all Ps>0.05). CONCLUSIONS (1) ANT-DBS reduces neuronal loss during the chronic stage of epilepsy. (2) Neurogenesis is elevated by ANT-DBS in both epileptic and healthy rats, and this elevation may not be regulated via a BDNF pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chuan Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Lin Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Guan-Yu Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Xiu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - De-Feng Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Yu-Ye Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Yin Jiang
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Jian-Guo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurostimulation, Beijing 100050, China.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Zhu K, Hu M, Yuan B, Liu JX, Liu Y. Aspirin attenuates spontaneous recurrent seizures in the chronically epileptic mice. Neurol Res 2017; 39:744-757. [PMID: 28481152 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2017.1326657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neuroinflammatory processes are pathologic hallmarks of both experimental and human epilepsy, and could be implicated in the neuronal hyperexcitability. Aspirin represents one of the non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with fewer side effects in long-term application. This study was carried out to assess the anti-epileptic effects of aspirin when administered during the chronic stage of temporal lobe epilepsy [TLE] in mice. The alteration of hippocampal neurogenesis was also examined for raising a possible mechanism underlying the protective effect of anti-inflammatory treatment in the TLE. METHODS Two months after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus, the chronically epileptic mice were treated with aspirin (20 mg, 60 mg or 80 mg/kg) once a day for 10 weeks. Spontaneous recurrent seizures were monitored by video camera for 2 weeks. To evaluate the profile of hippocampal neurogenesis, the newly generated cells in the dentate gyrus were labeled by the proliferation marker BrdU. The newborn neurons that extended axons to CA3 area were visualized by cholera toxin B subunit retrograde tracing. RESULTS Administration of aspirin with a dosage of 60 mg or 80 mg/kg initiated at 2 months after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus significantly reduced the frequency and duration of spontaneous recurrent seizures. Aspirin treatment also increased the number of newborn neurons with anatomic integration through improving the survival of the newly generated cells. CONCLUSION Aspirin treatment during the chronic stage of TLE could attenuate the spontaneous recurrent seizures in mice. Promotion of hippocampal neurogenesis and inhibition of COX-PGE2 pathway might partly contribute to this anti-epileptic effect. Highlights • Aspirin attenuates spontaneous recurrent seizures of chronically epileptic mice • Aspirin increases neurogenesis of chronically epileptic hippocampus by improving the survival of newly generated cells • Promotion of hippocampal neurogenesis and inhibition of COX-PGE2 pathway might partly contribute to anti-epileptic effects of aspirin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhu
- a Institute of Neurobiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center , Xi'an , China
| | - Ming Hu
- a Institute of Neurobiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center , Xi'an , China.,b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center , Xi'an , China
| | - Bo Yuan
- a Institute of Neurobiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center , Xi'an , China
| | - Jian-Xin Liu
- a Institute of Neurobiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center , Xi'an , China
| | - Yong Liu
- a Institute of Neurobiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center , Xi'an , China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Venceslas D, Corinne R. A Mesiotemporal Lobe Epilepsy Mouse Model. Neurochem Res 2017; 42:1919-1925. [PMID: 28332054 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-017-2239-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Among the different forms of epilepsies, mesiotemporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is one of the most common and represents the main pharmaco-resistant form of epilepsy. There is therefore an urgent need to better understand this form of epilepsy to develop better anti-epileptic drugs. Many rodent models are mimicking some aspects of the human temporal lobe epilepsy but only few are addressing most of the human mesiotemporal lobe epilepsy. In this article, we describe the main characteristics of a mouse of model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. This model is generated by a single injection of kainic acid into the dorsal hippocampus which reproduces most of the morphological and electrophysiological features of human MTLE in a mouse. This model may help to better understand mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and the development of new therapeutic drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duveau Venceslas
- SynapCell SAS, Bâtiment Biopolis, 5 Avenue du Grand Sablon, 38700, La Tronche, France.
| | - Roucard Corinne
- SynapCell SAS, Bâtiment Biopolis, 5 Avenue du Grand Sablon, 38700, La Tronche, France
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Klee R, Brandt C, Töllner K, Löscher W. Various modifications of the intrahippocampal kainate model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in rats fail to resolve the marked rat-to-mouse differences in type and frequency of spontaneous seizures in this model. Epilepsy Behav 2017; 68:129-140. [PMID: 28167446 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of acquired epilepsy in adults. TLE can develop after diverse brain insults, including traumatic brain injury, infections, stroke, or prolonged status epilepticus (SE). Post-SE rodent models of TLE are widely used to understand mechanisms of epileptogenesis and develop treatments for epilepsy prevention. In this respect, the intrahippocampal kainate model of TLE in mice is of interest, because highly frequent spontaneous electrographic seizures develop in the kainate focus, allowing evaluation of both anti-seizure and anti-epileptogenic effects of novel drugs with only short EEG recording periods, which is not possible in any other model of TLE, including the intrahippocampal kainate model in rats. In the present study, we investigated whether the marked mouse-to-rat difference in occurrence and frequency of spontaneous seizures is due to a species difference or to technical variables, such as anesthesia during kainate injection, kainate dose, or location of kainate injection and EEG electrode in the hippocampus. When, as in the mouse model, anesthesia was used during kainate injection, only few rats developed epilepsy, although severity or duration of SE was not affected by isoflurane. In contrast, most rats developed epilepsy when kainate was injected without anesthesia. However, frequent electrographic seizures as observed in mice did not occur in rats, irrespective of location of kainate injection (CA1, CA3) or EEG recording electrode (CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus) or dose of kainate injected. These data indicate marked phenotypic differences between mice and rats in this model. Further studies should explore the mechanisms underlying this species difference.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Klee
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany, and Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Claudia Brandt
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany, and Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrin Töllner
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany, and Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany, and Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Twele F, Schidlitzki A, Töllner K, Löscher W. The intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: Lack of electrographic seizure-like events in sham controls. Epilepsia Open 2017; 2:180-187. [PMID: 29588947 PMCID: PMC5719860 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective There is an ongoing debate about definition of seizures in experimental models of acquired epilepsy and how important adequate sham controls are in this respect. For instance, several mouse and rat strains exhibit high-voltage rhythmic spike or spike-wave discharges in the cortical electroencephalogram (EEG), which has to be considered when using such strains for induction of epilepsy by status epilepticus, traumatic brain injury, or other means. Mice developing spontaneous recurrent nonconvulsive and convulsive seizures after intrahippocampal injection of kainate are increasingly being used as a model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. We performed a prospective study in which EEG alterations occurring in this model were compared with the EEGs in appropriate sham controls, using hippocampal electrodes and video-EEG monitoring. Methods Experiments with intrahippocampal kainate (or saline) injections started when mice were about 8 weeks of age. Continuous video-EEG recording via hippocampal electrodes was performed 6 weeks after surgery in kainate-injected mice and sham controls, that is, at an age of about 14 weeks. Three days of continuous video-EEG monitoring were compared between kainate-injected mice and experimental controls. Results As reported previously, kainate-injected mice exhibited two types of highly frequent electrographic seizures: high-voltage sharp waves, which were often monomorphic, and polymorphic hippocampal paroxysmal discharges. In addition, generalized convulsive clinical seizures were infrequently observed. None of these electrographic or electroclinical seizures were observed in sham controls. The only infrequently observed EEG abnormalities in sham controls were isolated spikes or spike clusters, which were also recorded in epileptic mice. Significance This study rigorously demonstrates, by explicit comparison with the EEGs of sham controls, that the nonconvulsive paroxysmal events observed in this model are consequences of the induced epilepsy and not features of the EEG expected to be seen in some experimental control mice or unintentionally induced by surgical procedures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Twele
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and PharmacyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineHanoverGermany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience Hanover Germany
| | - Alina Schidlitzki
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and PharmacyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineHanoverGermany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience Hanover Germany
| | - Kathrin Töllner
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and PharmacyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineHanoverGermany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience Hanover Germany
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and PharmacyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineHanoverGermany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience Hanover Germany
| |
Collapse
|