Delayed audiogenic seizure development in a genetic rat model is associated with overactivation of ERK1/2 and disturbances in glutamatergic signaling

Audiogenic kindling activates glutamatergic system in the hippocampus of rats with genetic predisposition to audiogenic seizures

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) development is associated with dysregulation of glutamatergic transmission in the hippocampus; however, detailed molecular mechanisms of pathological changes are still poorly understood. In the present study, we performed the complex analysis of glutamatergic system in the hippocampus of Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats genetically prone to audiogenic seizures (AGS). Daily AGS stimulations (audiogenic kindling) were used to reproduce the dynamics of TLE development. Naïve KM rats were used as a control. After 14 AGS, at the stage of developing TLE, KM rats demonstrated significant upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and 2, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and c-Fos in the hippocampus indicating activation of the hippocampal cells. These changes were accompanied with an increase in glutaminase and vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) 2 suggesting the activation of glutamate production and loading into the synaptic vesicles. After 21 AGS, when TLE was fully-established, alterations were similar but more pronounced, with higher activation of glutaminase, increase in glutamate production, upregulation of VGLUT1 and 2, and Fos-related antigen 1 (Fra-1) along with c-Fos. Analysis of glutamate receptors showed variable changes. Thus, after 14 AGS, simultaneous increase in metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1 and decrease in ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors could reflect compensatory anti-epileptic mechanism, while further kindling progression induced upregulation of ionotropic receptors, probably, contributing to the hippocampal epileptization. However, we revealed practically no alterations in the expression of synaptic proteins. Altogether, obtained results suggested that overactivation of glutamate production in the hippocampus strongly contributed to TLE development in KM rats.

Postnatal development of the hippocampal GABAergic system in rats genetically prone to audiogenic seizures

Epileptogenesis can be associated with altered genetic control of the GABAergic system. Here we analyzed Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats genetically prone to audiogenic epilepsy. KM rats express fully formed audiogenic seizures (AGSs) not early, then they reach 3 months. At the age of 1-2 months, KM rats either do not express AGS or demonstrate an incomplete pattern of seizure. Such long-term development of AGS susceptibility makes KM rats an especially convenient model to investigate the mechanisms and dynamics of the development of inherited epilepsy. The analysis of the GABAergic system of the hippocampus of KM rats was done during postnatal development at the 15th, 60th, and 120th postnatal days. Wistar rats of corresponding ages were used as a control. In the hippocampus of KM pups, we observed a decrease in the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) and parvalbumin (PV), which points to a decrease in the activity of GABAergic neurons. Analysis of the 2-month-old KM rats showed an increase in GAD67 and PV expression while synapsin I and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) were decreased. In adult KM rats, the expression of GAD67, PV, and synapsin I was upregulated. Altogether, the obtained data indicate significant alterations in GABAergic transmission in the hippocampus of audiogenic KM rats during the first postnatal months.

Imbalance of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in audiogenic seizure-susceptible Leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (Lgi1)-mutant rats

Leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) was identified as a causative gene of autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy. We previously reported that Lgi1-mutant rats carrying a missense mutation (L385R) showed audiogenic seizure-susceptibility. To explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Lgi1-related epilepsy, we evaluated changes in glutamate and GABA release in Lgi1-mutant rats. Acoustic priming (AP) for audiogenic seizure-susceptibility was performed by applying intense sound stimulation (130 dB, 10 kHz, 5 min) on postnatal day 16. Extracellular glutamate and GABA levels in the hippocampus CA1 region were evaluated at 8 weeks of age, using in vivo microdialysis techniques. Under naïve conditions without AP, glutamate and GABA release evoked by high-K+ depolarization was more prominent in Lgi1-mutant than in wild-type (WT) rats. The AP treatment on day 16 significantly increased basal glutamate levels and depolarization-induced glutamate release both in Lgi1-mutant and WT rats, yielding greater depolarization-induced glutamate release in Lgi1-mutant rats. On the other hand, the AP treatment enhanced depolarization-induced GABA release only in WT rats, and not in Lgi1-mutant rats, illustrating reduced GABAergic neurotransmission in primed Lgi1-mutant rats. The present results suggest that enhanced glutamatergic and reduced GABAergic neurotransmission are involved in the audiogenic seizure-susceptibility associated with Lgi1-mutation.

Rodent Models of Audiogenic Epilepsy: Genetic Aspects, Advantages, Current Problems and Perspectives

Animal models of epilepsy are of great importance in epileptology. They are used to study the mechanisms of epileptogenesis, and search for new genes and regulatory pathways involved in the development of epilepsy as well as screening new antiepileptic drugs. Today, many methods of modeling epilepsy in animals are used, including electroconvulsive, pharmacological in intact animals, and genetic, with the predisposition for spontaneous or refractory epileptic seizures. Due to the simplicity of manipulation and universality, genetic models of audiogenic epilepsy in rodents stand out among this diversity. We tried to combine data on the genetics of audiogenic epilepsy in rodents, the relevance of various models of audiogenic epilepsy to certain epileptic syndromes in humans, and the advantages of using of rodent strains predisposed to audiogenic epilepsy in current epileptology.

Transcriptome of the Krushinsky-Molodkina Audiogenic Rat Strain and Identification of Possible Audiogenic Epilepsy-Associated Genes

Audiogenic epilepsy (AE), inherent to several rodent strains is widely studied as a model of generalized convulsive epilepsy. The molecular mechanisms that determine the manifestation of AE are not well understood. In the present work, we compared transcriptomes from the corpora quadrigemina in the midbrain zone, which are crucial for AE development, to identify genes associated with the AE phenotype. Three rat strains without sound exposure were compared: Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) strain (100% AE-prone); Wistar outbred rat strain (non-AE prone) and “0” strain (partially AE-prone), selected from F2 KM × Wistar hybrids for their lack of AE. The findings showed that the KM strain gene expression profile exhibited a number of characteristics that differed from those of the Wistar and “0” strain profiles. In particular, the KM rats showed increased expression of a number of genes involved in the positive regulation of the MAPK signaling cascade and genes involved in the positive regulation of apoptotic processes. Another characteristic of the KM strain which differed from that of the Wistar and “0” rats was a multi-fold increase in the expression level of the Ttr gene and a significant decrease in the expression of the Msh3 gene. Decreased expression of a number of oxidative phosphorylation-related genes and a few other genes was also identified in the KM strain. Our data confirm the complex multigenic nature of AE inheritance in rodents. A comparison with data obtained from other independently selected AE-prone rodent strains suggests some common causes for the formation of the audiogenic phenotype.

Neurochemical abnormalities in the hippocampus of male rats displaying audiogenic seizures, a genetic model of epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures that affects 1% of the population. However, the neurochemical alterations observed in epilepsy are not fully understood. There are different animal models of epilepsy, such as genetic or drug induced. In the present study, we utilize Wistar Audiogenic Rats (WAR), a murine strain that develops seizures in response to high intensity audio stimulation, in order to investigate abnormalities in glutamatergic and GABAergic systems.

METHODS

Synaptosomes and glial plasmalemmal vesicles were prepared from hippocampus and cortex, respectively. Glutamate and GABA release and uptake were assayed by monitoring the fluorescence and using L-[³H]-radiolabeled compounds. Glutamate and calcium concentration in the synaptosomes were also measured. The expression of neuronal calcium sensor 1 (NCS-1) was determined by western blot.

RESULTS

Glutamate and GABA release evoked by KCl was decreased in WAR compared to control Wistar rats. Calcium independent release was not considerably different in both groups. The total amount of glutamate of synaptosomes, as well as glutamate uptake by synaptosomes and GPV were also decreased in WAR in comparison with the controls. In addition, [Ca²⁺]_i of hippocampal synaptosomes, as well as NCS-1 expression in the hippocampus, were increased in WAR in comparison with controls.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our results suggest that WAR have important alterations in the glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways, as well as an increased expression of NCS-1 in the hippocampus and inferior colliculus. These alterations may be linked to the spreading of hyperexcitability and recruitment of various brain regions.

Impaired postnatal development of the hippocampus of Krushinsky-Molodkina rats genetically prone to audiogenic seizures

The hippocampus plays an important role in epilepsy progression even if it is not involved in seizure generalization. We hypothesized that abnormal development of the hippocampus may underlie epileptogenesis. Here we analyzed postnatal development of the hippocampus of Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats, which are the animal model of reflex audiogenic epilepsy. KM rats are genetically prone to audiogenic seizures that are expressed in age-dependent manner. The study was performed on seizure-naïve KM rats at several days of postnatal development (P15, P30, P60, P120). Wistar rats of the corresponding ages were used as a control. We showed that at early stages (P15, P30), the hippocampus of KM rats was characterized by significantly smaller cell population, but the number of proliferated cells was increased in comparison with control Wistar rats. Only at P60 proliferation and the total number of the hippocampal cells reached a level equal to Wistar rats. These data suggest delayed postnatal development of the hippocampus of KM rats. Analysis of apoptosis demonstrated significantly increased number of TUNEL-positive cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) of KM rats at P30 that was accompanied with expression of p53, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspases 3 and 9. Additionally, at all analyzed stages in the hilus of KM rats, the number of new-born glutamatergic cells was significantly increased that suggests formation of hilar ectopic granular cells. Our data suggest that in the case of hereditary epilepsy aberrant neurogenesis may be genetically determined.

Gut neurotoxin p-cresol induces differential expression of GLUN2B and GLUN2A subunits of the NMDA receptor in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens in healthy and audiogenic seizure-prone rats

Mislocalization and abnormal expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor (NMDAR) subunits is observed in several brain disorders and pathological conditions. Recently, we have shown that intraperitoneal injection of the gut neurotoxin p-cresol induces autism-like behavior and accelerates seizure reactions in healthy and epilepsy-prone rats, respectively. In this study, we evaluated the expression of GLUN2B and GLUN2A NMDAR subunits, and assessed the activity of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and Rac1 in the hippocampi and nucleus accumbens of healthy and epilepsy-prone rats following p-cresol administration. We have found that subchronic intraperitoneal injection of p-cresol induced differential expression of GLUN2B and GLUN2A between the two brain regions, and altered the GLUN2B/GLUN2A ratio, in rats in both groups. Moreover, p-cresol impaired CREB phosphorylation in both brain structures and stimulated Rac activity in the hippocampus. These data indicate that p-cresol differently modulates the expression of NMDAR subunits in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampi of healthy and epilepsy-prone rats. We propose that these differences are due to the specificity of interactions between dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways in these structures.

Glutamatergic Fate of Neural Progenitor Cells of Rats with Inherited Audiogenic Epilepsy

Epilepsy is associated with aberrant neurogenesis in the hippocampus and may underlie the development of hereditary epilepsy. In the present study, we analyzed the differentiation fate of neural progenitor cells (NPC), which were isolated from the hippocampus of embryos of Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats genetically prone to audiogenic epilepsy. NPCs from embryos of Wistar rats were used as the control. We found principal differences between Wistar and KM NPC in unstimulated controls: Wistar NPC culture contained both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamatergic neurons; KM NPC culture was mainly represented by glutamatergic cells. The stimulation of glutamatergic differentiation of Wistar NPC resulted in a significant increase in glutamatergic cell number that was accompanied by the activation of protein kinase A. The stimulation of KM NPC led to a decrease in immature glutamatergic cell number and was associated with the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B/ glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (Akt/GSK3β), which indicates the activation of glutamatergic cell maturation. These results suggest genetically programmed abnormalities in KM rats that determine the glutamatergic fate of NPC and contribute to the development of audiogenic epilepsy.

Behavioral and neurochemical characterization of the spontaneous mutation tremor, a new mouse model of audiogenic seizures

The tremor mutant phenotype results from an autosomal recessive spontaneous mutation arisen in a Swiss-Webster mouse colony. The mutant mice displayed normal development until three weeks of age when they began to present motor impairment comprised by whole body tremor, ataxia, and decreased exploratory behavior. These features increased in severity with aging suggesting a neurodegenerative profile. In parallel, they showed audiogenic generalized clonic seizures. Results from genetic mapping identified the mutation tremor on chromosome 14, in an interval of 5 cM between D14Mit37 (33.21 cM) and D14Mit115 (38.21 cM), making Early Growth Response 3 (Egr3) the main candidate gene. Comparing with wild type (WT) mice, the tremor mice showed higher hippocampal gene expression of Egr3 and Gabra1 and increased concentrations of noradrenalin (NOR; p = .0012), serotonin (5HT; p = .0083), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA; p = .0032), γ-amino butyric acid (GABA; p = .0123), glutamate (p = .0217) and aspartate (p = .0124). In opposition, the content of glycine (p = .0168) and the vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)/NOR ratio (p = .032) were decreased. Regarding to dopaminergic system, neither dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) contents nor the turnover rate of DA showed statistically significant differences between WT and mutant mice. Data demonstrated that audiogenic seizures of tremor mice are associated with progressive motor impairment as well as to hippocampal alterations of the Egr3 and Gabra1 gene expression and amino acid and monoamine content. In addition, the tremor mice could be useful for study of neurotransmission pathways as modulators of epilepsy and the pathogenesis of epilepsies occurring with generalized clonic seizures.

Cystatin C promotes cognitive dysfunction in rats with cerebral microbleeds by inhibiting the ERK/synapsin Ia/Ib pathway

Although higher serum level of cystatin C (CysC) was observed in patients with cerebral microbleeds, its associated role in the disease has not been elucidated. In this work, a rat model of cerebral microbleeds was created with the aim of investigating effects of CysC on cognitive function in rats with cerebral microbleeds and the underlying mechanism. Serum samples of patients with cerebral microbleeds and healthy people of the same age were collected. Levels of cystatin C expression in these samples were measured using CysC kits. Moreover, 48 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) bred under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham surgery control group (sham), model group (CMB), model + empty vector control group (CMB + vehicle), and model + cystatin C overexpression group (CMB + CysC). Expression levels of CysC in hippocampus of rats in each group were measured by western blot analysis. The Y-maze was used to evaluate cognitive function of rats. Hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in rats was assessed by the electrophysiological assay. Alterations in levels of p-ERK1/2 and p-synapsin Ia/b proteins associated with cognitive function were identified by western blot analysis. The serum levels of CysC in patients with cerebral microbleeds were significantly upregulated (P<0.001). After injection of CysC, its expression levels in rat hippocampus were significantly increased (P<0.001), which enhanced the decline in learning and memory function, as well as the decrease of LTP in the rat model of cerebral microbleeds (P<0.001). Western blot results showed that injection of CysC further reduced the levels of p-ERK1/2 and p-synapsin Ia/b in the rat model of microbleeds (P<0.001). CysC was up regulated in serum of patients with cerebral microbleeds. It promoted cognitive dysfunction in rats with microbleeds by inhibiting ERK/synapsin Ia/Ib pathway.