The effects of callosal agenesis on the susceptibility to seizures elicited by pentylenetetrazol in BALB/cCF mice

Early callosal absence disrupts the establishment of normal neocortical structure in Swiss mice

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the ontogenetic development of the corpus callosum is relevant for the establishment of a normal neocortical structure. To that effect, neocortical morphology (thickness and neuronal density) was analyzed in adult Swiss mice rendered acallosal by midline transection at the first postnatal day (Acallosal group) and in non-manipulated mice. The neocortical thicknesses and neuronal densities of layers II+III through VI were measured in area 6 and at the 17/18a border, both of which present abundant callosal inputs, and in the relatively acallosal area 17. For the thickness measure, significant differences between Non-manipulated and Acallosal groups were only found in the areas that receive massive callosal connections. In area 6, Acallosal mice presented a reduced thickness of layer V, while at the 17/18a border, these mice presented a reduced thickness of layers II+III when compared to non-manipulated ones. No statistical difference between acallosal and non-manipulated mice was found regarding the neuronal density measure. The reduced cortical thickness associated with a comparatively normal neuronal density in neocortical regions which normally have abundant callosal connections suggest a reduction in the number of cortical neurons in acallosal mice. Altogether, the present data indicate that the input provided by callosal axons is necessary for the normal development of the neocortex.

Involvement of Scn1b and Kcna1 ion channels in audiogenic seizures and PTZ-induced epilepsy

We have undertaken chemical genetic approach using Qingyangshenylycosides (QYS), a natural product compound, to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying different types of epilepsy models. Two animal models were used for these studies, i.e., audiogenic seizure (AGS) and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced generalized epilepsy in DBA/2J mice. We show that the latency of AGS is prolonged and the severity of seizures (the percentages of the tonus, Tonus_%) is reduced in the QYS-treated animals. These results indicate that QYS has anticonvulsant effect on the AGS model. However, we find that administration of QYS has an opposite effects on PTZ-induced generalized epilepsy. Both the latency of the generalized epilepsy and the latency of death are decreased after QYS treatment in PTZ-induced epilepsy. We examine the molecular basis of the distinct roles of QYS in these two epilepsy models by using gene expression data. Our results show that a voltage-gated sodium channel (Scn1b) and a voltage-gated potassium channel (Kcna1) are differentially expressed in AGS and PTZ-induced epilepsy models as well as in QYS-treated animals. Our results demonstrate that a chemical genetic approach may help to reveal both the molecular mechanisms of different epilepsies and the mechanism of action of the antiepileptic drugs.

Increased lateralization in rotational side preference in male mice rendered acallosal by prenatal gamma irradiation

In order to test the hypothesis that the ontogenetic development of the corpus callosum is related to the establishment of behavioral laterality, the rotatory behavior in the free-swimming test was studied in male Swiss mice with callosal defects induced by exposure to gamma irradiations at the 16th embryonic day (total dose of 3 Gy). At adulthood, 43 irradiated and 56 non-irradiated mice were submitted to 3 sessions of the free-swimming rotatory test (diameter of the recipient=21 cm; session duration=5 min; inter-test interval=48 h). The number and direction of 30 degrees and 360 degrees turns were recorded. Animals were classified as side-consistent turners (to the right or to the left) when they did not change their preferred side of rotation in all three sessions and in both turning units. In general our results suggested that irradiated animals present more pronounced laterality than non-irradiated ones. In the irradiated group, the percentage of consistent turners was significantly higher than that of non-consistent turners. In the first session, the percentage of animals that presented strong turning preferences in the acallosal group was higher than in the normal group. In first session, the acallosal group presented a higher average number of turns to preferred side than the normal group. Taken together, our results constitute an endorsement to the hypothesis that the normal development of the corpus callosum is related to the establishment of cerebral laterality.

Increased seizure susceptibility and cortical malformation in beta-catenin mutant mice

Beta-catenin has been implicated in epilepsy because of its altered post seizure expression and the role of Wnt2 signaling in autism. To determine beta-catenin's role in seizure susceptibility, we injected penetylenetetrazol intraperitoneally in beta-catenin cerebral cortex- and hippocampus-specific knockout mice. We then analyzed the latency, number, and duration of four phases of seizure behaviors: (I) non-seizure activity, (II) myoclonic jerks, (III) generalized clonic seizures, and (IV) tonic seizures. The latencies to both death and Phase IV were significantly reduced in mutant mice. Mutant mice also spent significantly more time in Phases III and IV and showed significantly less time in the non-convulsive state (Phase I). Nissl and gold chloride staining indicated that the knockout mice had underdeveloped cortices, lacked a corpus callosum, and were missing hippocampal structures. This suggests that dysfunction of beta-catenin-mediated signaling pathways in mice leads to cortical malformation and increased seizure susceptibility.

The effect of corpus callosum agenesis on neocortical thickness and neuronal density of BALB/cCF mice

We used acallosal and normal adult BALB/cCF mice to test the hypothesis that the development of the corpus callosum is relevant for the establishment of a normal structure of the neocortex. Neuronal density and thickness of individual layers were analyzed in neocortical regions with abundant callosal connections (area 6 and the 17/18a border) and in the relatively acallosal area 17. In area 6, acallosal mice exhibited a total neocortical thickness smaller than that of normal mice, as well as thinner layers II+III and IV. Similar data were obtained at the 17/18a border, where the total thickness of the cortex and of layers II+III was smaller in the acallosal mice than in normal ones. In contrast, no significant thickness differences were documented in area 17 of acallosal versus normal mice. The quantitative data obtained in the analyzed neocortical regions did not show differences in neuronal density between acallosal and normal mice. The reduced cortical thickness, associated with the comparatively normal neuronal density in neocortical regions which normally have abundant callosal connections, provides indirect indication of a reduction in the number of cortical neurons in acallosal mice. This assumption was also supported by the lack of evidence of neocortical alterations in the acallosal area 17. The present findings suggest that during development neocortical neurons destined to receive a massive callosal input may die as a result of lack of afferents. Altogether the present data indicate that the input provided by callosal axons is necessary for a normal development of the neocortex.

Sex differences in the incidence of total callosal agenesis in BALB/cCF mice

Corpus callosum (CC) development and adult morphology seems to be affected by sex. Here we analyzed the incidence of total callosal agenesis in 341 adult male and 318 female BALB/cCF mice. This strain of mice presents total or partial callosal agenesis in approximately 20-30% of its population. No significant differences were found in overall distributions of CC lengths and in average callosal lengths (totally acallosal excluded) between male and female mice. However, a highly significant difference in the incidence of total callosal agenesis was demonstrated: 18% (n=56) of the female mice presented such trait as opposed to 10% of males (n=34). This last result suggests that sex is a relevant factor in callosal development in its earliest stages of formation.