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Balikci A, Eryilmaz U, Guler VK, Ilbay G. Tactile stimulation of young WAG/Rij rats prevents development of depression but not absence epilepsy. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1433431. [PMID: 38993266 PMCID: PMC11236540 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1433431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigations in Wistar Albino Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats that are susceptible to genetic absence epilepsy have demonstrated that environmental modifications affect absence seizures. Previously, we showed that neonatal tactile stimulations produce disease-modifying effect on genetically determined absence epilepsy and associated depression in Wag/Rij rats. The study presented here examined the effect of TS during late ontogenesis (adolescence and young adulthood) on epilepsy and depression outcomes in this genetically epileptic rat strain. On postnatal day (PND) 38, male WAG/Rij rats randomly were assigned to either the tactile stimulation (TS), handled or control group (unhandled) with 8 animals in each group. Following a 7-day adaptation period to their new surroundings, the animals were submitted to tactile stimulation from PND 45 to PND 90, five days per week, for 5 min daily. The tactile-stimulated rat was removed from its cage, placed on the experimenter's lap, and had its neck and back gently stroked by the researcher. The handled rats were taken to another cage and left alone for 5 min daily from PND 45 to PND 90. The control rats were left undisturbed in their home cage, except for regular cage cleaning. After PND 90, all rats were left undisturbed until behavioral testing and EEG recording. When the animals were 7 months old, they were subjected to the sucrose consumption test (SCT) and the forced swimming test (FST). Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were made at 8 months of age in order to measure electroencephalographic seizure activity, thus, the spike-wave discharges (SWDs). Tactile-stimulated rats showed increased sucrose consumption and number of approaches to the sucrose solution in the SCT when compared with the handled and control rats. In the FST, rats in TS group showed lower immobility time and greater immobility latency, active swimming time and diving frequency than the handled and control rats. The duration and the number of seizures were not different amongst the groups. The data obtained suggest that TS in young rats is able to prevent depression in WAG/Rij rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymen Balikci
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, İzmit, Türkiye
| | - Ugur Eryilmaz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, İzmit, Türkiye
| | - Vildan Keles Guler
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, İzmit, Türkiye
| | - Gul Ilbay
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, İzmit, Türkiye
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Sitnikova E. Behavioral and Cognitive Comorbidities in Genetic Rat Models of Absence Epilepsy (Focusing on GAERS and WAG/Rij Rats). Biomedicines 2024; 12:122. [PMID: 38255227 PMCID: PMC10812980 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Absence epilepsy is a non-convulsive type of epilepsy characterized by the sudden loss of awareness. It is associated with thalamo-cortical impairment, which may cause neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive problems. Rats with spontaneous absence-like seizures are widely used as in vivo genetic models for absence epilepsy; they display behavioral and cognitive problems similar to epilepsy in humans, such as genetic absence epilepsy rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) and Wistar Albino rats from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij). Depression- and anxiety-like behaviors were apparent in GAERS, but no anxiety and depression-like symptoms were found in WAG/Rij rats. Deficits in executive functions and memory impairment in WAG/Rij rats, i.e., cognitive comorbidities, were linked to the severity of epilepsy. Wistar rats can develop spontaneous seizures in adulthood, so caution is advised when using them as a control epileptic strain. This review discusses challenges in the field, such as putative high emotionality in genetically prone rats, sex differences in the expression of cognitive comorbidities, and predictors of cognitive problems or biomarkers of cognitive comorbidities in absence epilepsy, as well as the concept of "the cognitive thalamus". The current knowledge of behavioral and cognitive comorbidities in drug-naive rats with spontaneous absence epilepsy is beneficial for understanding the pathophysiology of absence epilepsy, and for finding new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Sitnikova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 5A Butlerova St., Moscow 117485, Russia
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3
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Dyomina AV, Smolensky IV, Zaitsev AV. Refinement of the Barnes and Morris water maze protocols improves characterization of spatial cognitive deficits in the lithium-pilocarpine rat model of epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 147:109391. [PMID: 37619464 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often causes cognitive impairment, especially a decline in spatial memory. Reductions in spatial memory and learning are also common in rodent models of TLE. The Morris water maze and the Barnes maze are the standard methods for evaluating spatial learning and memory in rodents. However, animals with TLE may exhibit agitation, distress, and fail to follow the paradigmatic context of these tests, making the interpretation of experimental data difficult. This study optimized the procedure of the Morris water maze and the Barnes maze to evaluate spatial learning and memory in rats with the lithium-pilocarpine TLE model (LPM rats). It was demonstrated that LPM rats required a mandatory and prolonged habituation stage for both tests. Therefore, the experimental rats performed relatively well on these tests. Nevertheless, LPM rats exhibited a slower learning process compared to the control rats. LPM rats also showed a reduction in spatial memory formation. This was more pronounced in the Barnes maze. Also, LPM rats utilized a sequential strategy for searching in the Barnes maze and were incapable of developing a more efficient spatial search strategy that is common in control animals. The Barnes maze may be a better choice for assessing search strategies, learning deficits, and spatial memory in rats with TLE when choosing between the two tests. This is because of the risk of unexpected seizure occurrence during the Morris water maze tests, and the potential risks for animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra V Dyomina
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of RAS (IEPhB), 44, Toreza pr., Saint Petersburg 194223, Russia
| | - Ilya V Smolensky
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of RAS (IEPhB), 44, Toreza pr., Saint Petersburg 194223, Russia; Department of Community Health, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aleksey V Zaitsev
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of RAS (IEPhB), 44, Toreza pr., Saint Petersburg 194223, Russia.
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Fedosova EA, Shatskova AB, Sarkisova KY. Ethosuximide Improves Cognitive Flexibility during Reversal Learning in WAG/Rij Rats with Absence Epilepsy and Comorbid Depression. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093022010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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5
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Esmaeili A, Antonova A, Sitnikova E, Smirnov K. Whisker trimming during infanthood modifies the development of spike-wave discharges and behavioral sequences in IntelliCage impulsivity paradigm in adult WAG/Rij rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 418:113627. [PMID: 34648796 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Whisker system in rats undergoes rapid development during the first postnatal weeks. Neonatal whisker trimming increases excitability in the somatosensory cortex and affects exploratory behavior at adult ages. WAG/Rij rats are genetically predisposed to develop absence seizures in adulthood, and whisker trimming during three postnatal weeks aggravates epileptic activity in these rats. It is assumed that behavioral performance in adult WAG/Rij rats is influenced (1) by absence epilepsy and (2) by whisker trimming during the short period around the onset of active whisker movements, PN9-16. We examined the effect of whisker trimming in WAG/Rij rats during PN9-16 on spike-wave discharges (SWD, EEG hallmark of absence epilepsy). We found that 77% of WAG/Rij rats showed pronounced SWD (epileptic phenotype), and the rest did not (non-epileptic phenotype). At the age of 5 m, epileptic trimmed rats showed more SWD than epileptic control rats. Age-related increase of SWD was found only in the control group, suggesting that whisker trimming during PN9-16 led to an earlier maturation of SWD. Goal-directed behavior was examined in all rats at the age of 4-4.5 m using IntelliCage impulsivity paradigm. In order to optimize the analysis of behavioral data, we combined several Python packages into a single processing pipeline. Early life whisker trimming altered behavioral sequences and strategy of exploration in adulthood, suggesting reduced whisker sensitivity in the trimmed rats. Epileptic WAG/Rij rats at 4-4.5 months showed only a slight learning impairment during later stages of IntelliCage impulsivity paradigm, which may be associated with the early stage of development of SWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Esmaeili
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Aix-Marseille University, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Anastasia Antonova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology RAS, 5A Butlerova Street, 117485 Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgenia Sitnikova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology RAS, 5A Butlerova Street, 117485 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kirill Smirnov
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology RAS, 5A Butlerova Street, 117485 Moscow, Russia.
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Di Cicco G, Marzano E, Iacovelli L, Celli R, van Luijtelaar G, Nicoletti F, Ngomba RT, Wall MJ. Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated long term depression is disrupted in the hippocampus of WAG/Rij rats modelling absence epilepsy. Neuropharmacology 2021; 196:108686. [PMID: 34197893 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Absence epilepsy is frequently associated with cognitive dysfunction, although the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we report that some forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity are abnormal in symptomatic Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats. Metabotropic Glu 1/5 receptor-mediated long term depression (LTD) at Schaffer collateral CA1 synapses is significantly reduced in symptomatic, 5-6 months old WAG/Rij rats compared to age-matched non epileptic control rats. There were no significant changes in mGlu1/5-dependent LTD in pre-symptomatic, 4-6 weeks old WAG/Rij rats compared to age matched controls. The changes in LTD found in symptomatic WAG/Rij forms are not indicative of general deficits in all forms of synaptic plasticity as long term potentiation (LTP) was unchanged. Immunoblot analysis of hippocampal tissue showed a significant reduction in mGlu5 receptor expression, a trend to an increase in pan Homer protein levels and a decrease in GluA1 receptor expression in the hippocampus of symptomatic WAG/Rij rats vs non-epileptic control rats. There were no changes in mGlu1α receptor or GluA2 protein levels. These findings suggest that abnormalities in hippocampal mGlu5 receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity are associated with the pathological phenotype of WAG/Rij rats. This lays the groundwork for the study of mGlu5 receptors as a candidate drug target for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction linked to absence epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Di Cicco
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University Sapienza of Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Marzano
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University Sapienza of Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Iacovelli
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University Sapienza of Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University Sapienza of Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Richard T Ngomba
- University of Lincoln, School of Pharmacy Lincoln, United Kingdom; and, Coventry, UK.
| | - Mark J Wall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
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7
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Karson A, Utkan T, Şahin TD, Balcı F, Arkan S, Ateş N. Etanercept rescues cognitive deficits, depression-like symptoms, and spike-wave discharge incidence in WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 115:107532. [PMID: 33444990 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to be associated with the development of seizures in the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy. Importantly, WAG/Rij rats also exhibit cognitive deficits and depression-like behaviors. It is possible that pro-inflammatory cytokines mediate these comorbid conditions of absence epilepsy given their well-established effects on cognition and affective responses. The current study investigated the potential therapeutic effect of etanercept (tumor necrosis factor inhibitor) on cognitive impairment, depression-like behavior, and spike-wave discharges (SWDs) typically observed in the WAG/Rij rats. Eight-month-old male WAG/Rij rats and Wistar controls were tested in Morris water maze (MWM), passive avoidance (PA), forced swimming, sucrose preference, and locomotor activity tests, and electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were taken from a separate group of WAG/Rij rats after 8 weeks of etanercept or vehicle treatment. Consistent with earlier work, WAG/Rij rats exhibited cognitive deficits and depression-like behavior. From these, the cognitive deficits and despair-like behavior were rescued by etanercept administration, which also reduced the frequency of SWDs without affecting their duration. Our results support the hypothesis that pro-inflammatory cytokines mediate the absence seizures and comorbid symptoms of absence epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayşe Karson
- Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Turkey.
| | - Tijen Utkan
- Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Turkey.
| | | | - Fuat Balcı
- Koç University, Department of Psychology & Research Center for Translational Medicine, Turkey
| | - Sertan Arkan
- Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Turkey
| | - Nurbay Ateş
- Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Turkey
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8
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Luo X, Yu X, Liang J, Sun R, Li C, Jiang J. Involvement of GluA1-AMPAR-mediated LTP in time-dependent decline of cognitive function in rats with temporal lobe epilepsy. ACTA EPILEPTOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s42494-020-00036-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Cognitive impairment is one of the common comorbidities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Previous studies have found significant decay of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in TLE rats with cognitive impairment. As the activation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) is responsible for LTP formation and learning and memory, we investigated whether AMPARs are involved in the LTP inhibition and the TLE-associated cognitive impairments.
Methods
TLE rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride-pilocarpine on postnatal day 21 (P21). Learning and memory performance, hippocampal expression of membrane GluA1-AMPARs, and hippocampal LTP were tested by behavioral tests, western blotting, and field potential recording, respectively, at 1, 5 and 13 weeks after induction of status epilepticu (SE). Finally, the effects of (S)-AMPA, an agonist of AMPARs, on LTP and cognitive function were tested.
Results
Results of behavioral tests revealed an time-dependent decline in the learning and memory of TLE rats when compared to the age-matched controls at week 5 and 13, rather than at week 1 after the induction of SE. Western blotting showed that the hippocampal expression of membrane GluA1 was significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner in the TLE rats when compared to the age-matched controls at weeks 5 and 13, rather than at week 1 after the induction of SE. Similarly, the hippocampal LTP was inhibited in a time-dependent manner in TLE rats at weeks 5 and 13, rather than at week 1 after the induction of SE. Moreover, intra-hippocampal injection of (S)-AMPA ameliorated the deficits in learning as well as spatial and emotional memory in a dose-dependent manner, and partially reversed the inhibition of CA1 LTP in the TLE rats at week 13 after the induction of SE.
Conclusions
The reduced expression of hippocampal membrane GluA1 may be involved in LTP decay in CA1 and cognition impairment in TLE rats.
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Crunelli V, Lőrincz ML, McCafferty C, Lambert RC, Leresche N, Di Giovanni G, David F. Clinical and experimental insight into pathophysiology, comorbidity and therapy of absence seizures. Brain 2020; 143:2341-2368. [PMID: 32437558 PMCID: PMC7447525 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Absence seizures in children and teenagers are generally considered relatively benign because of their non-convulsive nature and the large incidence of remittance in early adulthood. Recent studies, however, show that 30% of children with absence seizures are pharmaco-resistant and 60% are affected by severe neuropsychiatric comorbid conditions, including impairments in attention, cognition, memory and mood. In particular, attention deficits can be detected before the epilepsy diagnosis, may persist even when seizures are pharmacologically controlled and are aggravated by valproic acid monotherapy. New functional MRI-magnetoencephalography and functional MRI-EEG studies provide conclusive evidence that changes in blood oxygenation level-dependent signal amplitude and frequency in children with absence seizures can be detected in specific cortical networks at least 1 min before the start of a seizure, spike-wave discharges are not generalized at seizure onset and abnormal cortical network states remain during interictal periods. From a neurobiological perspective, recent electrical recordings and imaging of large neuronal ensembles with single-cell resolution in non-anaesthetized models show that, in contrast to the predominant opinion, cortical mechanisms, rather than an exclusively thalamic rhythmogenesis, are key in driving seizure ictogenesis and determining spike-wave frequency. Though synchronous ictal firing characterizes cortical and thalamic activity at the population level, individual cortico-thalamic and thalamocortical neurons are sparsely recruited to successive seizures and consecutive paroxysmal cycles within a seizure. New evidence strengthens previous findings on the essential role for basal ganglia networks in absence seizures, in particular the ictal increase in firing of substantia nigra GABAergic neurons. Thus, a key feature of thalamic ictogenesis is the powerful increase in the inhibition of thalamocortical neurons that originates at least from two sources, substantia nigra and thalamic reticular nucleus. This undoubtedly provides a major contribution to the ictal decrease in total firing and the ictal increase of T-type calcium channel-mediated burst firing of thalamocortical neurons, though the latter is not essential for seizure expression. Moreover, in some children and animal models with absence seizures, the ictal increase in thalamic inhibition is enhanced by the loss-of-function of the astrocytic GABA transporter GAT-1 that does not necessarily derive from a mutation in its gene. Together, these novel clinical and experimental findings bring about paradigm-shifting views of our understanding of absence seizures and demand careful choice of initial monotherapy and continuous neuropsychiatric evaluation of affected children. These issues are discussed here to focus future clinical and experimental research and help to identify novel therapeutic targets for treating both absence seizures and their comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Crunelli
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.,Neuroscience Division, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK
| | - Magor L Lőrincz
- Neuroscience Division, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Cian McCafferty
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Régis C Lambert
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine and Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Leresche
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine and Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), Paris, France
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.,Neuroscience Division, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK
| | - François David
- Cerebral dynamics, learning and plasticity, Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center - UMR 8002, Paris, France
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Sitnikova E, Smirnov K. Active avoidance learning in WAG/Rij rats with genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy. Brain Res Bull 2020; 165:198-208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Jafarian M, Esmaeil Alipour M, Karimzadeh F. Experimental Models of Absence Epilepsy. Basic Clin Neurosci 2020; 11:715-726. [PMID: 33850609 PMCID: PMC8019851 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.11.6.731.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Absence epilepsy is a brief non-convulsive seizure associated with sudden abruptness in consciousness. Because of the unpredictable occurrence of absence seizures and the ethical issues of human investigation on the pathogenesis and drug assessment, researchers tend to study animal models. This paper aims to review the advantages and disadvantages of several animal models of nonconvulsive induced seizure. Methods: The articles that were published since 1990 were assessed. The publications that used genetic animals were analyzed, too. Besides, we reviewed possible application methods of each model, clinical types of seizures induced, purposed mechanism of epileptogenesis, their validity, and relevance to the absence epileptic patients. Results: The number of studies that used genetic models of absence epilepsy from years of 2000 was noticeably more than pharmacological models. Genetic animal models have a close correlation of electroencephalogram features and epileptic behaviors to the human condition. Conclusion: The validity of genetic models of absence epilepsy would motivate the researchers to focus on genetic modes in their studies. As there are some differences in the pathophysiology of absence epilepsy between animal models and humans, the development of new animal models is necessary to understand better the epileptogenic process and, or discover novel therapies for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Jafarian
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Mdical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Esmaeil Alipour
- Department of Neurosciences and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fariba Karimzadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Citraro R, Iannone M, Leo A, De Caro C, Nesci V, Tallarico M, Abdalla K, Palma E, Arturi F, De Sarro G, Constanti A, Russo E. Evaluation of the effects of liraglutide on the development of epilepsy and behavioural alterations in two animal models of epileptogenesis. Brain Res Bull 2019; 153:133-142. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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13
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Leo A, Caro CD, Nesci V, Palma E, Tallarico M, Iannone M, Constanti A, Sarro GD, Russo E, Citraro R. Antiepileptogenic effects of Ethosuximide and Levetiracetam in WAG/Rij rats are only temporary. Pharmacol Rep 2019; 71:833-838. [PMID: 31386986 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2019.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WAG/Rij rats represent a validated genetic animal model of epileptogenesis, absence epilepsy and depressive-like comorbidity. Some treatments (e.g. ethosuximide), using specific protocols, prevent the development of spontaneous absence seizures. Accordingly, ethosuximide increases remission occurrence in children with childhood absence epilepsy in comparison to valproic acid. Considering that in this animal model, antiepileptogenic effects are, in some cases, not retained over time, we studied whether the antiepileptogenic effects of both ethosuximide and levetiracetam (which also possesses antiepileptogenic effects in this and other animal epilepsy models) would be retained 5 months after drug suspension. METHODS WAG/Rij rats of ˜1 month of age were treated long-term with one of the two drugs at a dose of ˜80 mg/kg/day for 17 consecutive weeks; 1 and 5 months after drug suspension, the development of absence seizures as well as depressive-like behaviour were assessed by EEG recordings and the forced swimming test (FST). RESULTS In agreement with a previous report, both drugs continued to show antiepileptogenic effects 1 month after their discontinuation. Furthermore, ethosuximide improved depressive-like behaviour, whereas in contrast, levetiracetam worsened this symptom. However, none of the drugs maintained their antiepileptogenic effects 5 months after suspension, and in addition, animal behaviour in the FST returned to control conditions. CONCLUSION Overall, these results demonstrate that the antiepileptogenic effects of both ethosuximide and levetiracetam on absence seizure development and associated depressive-like behaviour in this model are only temporary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Leo
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Department, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carmen De Caro
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Department, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Nesci
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Department, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ernesto Palma
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Department, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Martina Tallarico
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Department, Catanzaro, Italy; CNR, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Iannone
- CNR, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | | | - Emilio Russo
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Department, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rita Citraro
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Department, Catanzaro, Italy.
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Leo A, Citraro R, Tallarico M, Iannone M, Fedosova E, Nesci V, De Sarro G, Sarkisova K, Russo E. Cognitive impairment in the WAG/Rij rat absence model is secondary to absence seizures and depressive-like behavior. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 94:109652. [PMID: 31095993 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric comorbidities are common in patients with epilepsy, remaining still an urgent unmet clinical need. Therefore, the management of epileptic disorders should not only be restricted to the achievement of seizure-freedom but must also be able to counteract its related comorbidities. Experimental animal models of epilepsy represent a valid tool not only to study epilepsy but also its associated comorbidities. The WAG/Rij rat is a well-established genetically-based model of absence epilepsy with depressive-like comorbidity, in which learning and memory impairment was also recently reported. Aim of this study was to clarify whether this cognitive decline is secondary or not to absence seizures and/or depressive-like behavior. The behavioral performance of untreated and ethosuximide-treated (300 mg/kg/day; 17 days) WAG/Rij rats at 6 and 12 months of age were assessed in several tests: forced swimming test, objects recognition test, social recognition test, Morris water maze and passive avoidance. According to our results, it seems that cognitive impairment in this strain, similarly to depressive-like behavior, is secondary to the occurrence of absence seizures, which might be necessary for the expression of cognitive impairment. Furthermore, our results suggest an age-dependent impairment of cognitive performance in WAG/Rij rats, which could be linked to the age-dependent increase of spike wave discharges. Consistently, it is possible that absence seizures, depressive-like behavior and cognitive deficit may arise independently and separately in lifetime from the same underlying network disease, as previously suggested for the behavioral features associated with other epileptic syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Leo
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Dept., Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rita Citraro
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Dept., Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Martina Tallarico
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Dept., Catanzaro, Italy; CNR, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Iannone
- CNR, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ekaterina Fedosova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentina Nesci
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Dept., Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Karine Sarkisova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Emilio Russo
- University of Catanzaro, School of Medicine, Science of Health Dept., Catanzaro, Italy
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Citraro R, Leo A, De Caro C, Nesci V, Gallo Cantafio ME, Amodio N, Mattace Raso G, Lama A, Russo R, Calignano A, Tallarico M, Russo E, De Sarro G. Effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on the Development of Epilepsy and Psychiatric Comorbidity in WAG/Rij Rats. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:408-421. [PMID: 31368023 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01712-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms, such as alterations in histone acetylation based on histone deacetylases (HDACs) activity, have been linked not only to normal brain function but also to several brain disorders including epilepsy and the epileptogenic process. In WAG/Rij rats, a genetic model of absence epilepsy, epileptogenesis and mild-depression comorbidity, we investigated the effects of two HDAC inhibitors (HDACi), namely sodium butyrate (NaB), valproic acid (VPA) and their co-administration, on the development of absence seizures and related psychiatric/neurologic comorbidities following two different experimental paradigms. Treatment effects have been evaluated by EEG recordings (EEG) and behavioural tests at different time points. Prolonged and daily VPA and NaB treatment, started before absence seizure onset (P30), significantly reduced the development of absence epilepsy showing antiepileptogenic effects. These effects were enhanced by NaB/VPA co-administration. Furthermore, early-chronic HDACi treatment improved depressive-like behaviour and cognitive performance 1 month after treatment withdrawal. WAG/Rij rats of 7 months of age showed reduced acetylated levels of histone H3 and H4, analysed by Western Blotting of homogenized brain, in comparison to WAG/Rij before seizure onset (P30). The brain histone acetylation increased significantly during treatment with NaB or VPA alone and more markedly during co-administration. We also observed decreased expression of both HDAC1 and 3 following HDACi treatment compared to control group. Our results suggest that histone modifications may have a crucial role in the development of epilepsy and early treatment with HDACi might be a possible strategy for preventing epileptogenesis also affecting behavioural comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Citraro
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella, 115, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonio Leo
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella, 115, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carmen De Caro
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella, 115, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Nesci
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella, 115, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria E Gallo Cantafio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University and Translational Medical Oncology Unit, Salvatore Venuta University Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University and Translational Medical Oncology Unit, Salvatore Venuta University Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Adriano Lama
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Calignano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Martina Tallarico
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella, 115, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.,Pharmacology Section, CNR, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emilio Russo
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella, 115, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Giovambattista De Sarro
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella, 115, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
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Swimming exercise decreases the absence-like epileptic activity in WAG/Rij rats. Behav Brain Res 2019; 363:145-148. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.01.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Papp P, Kovács Z, Szocsics P, Juhász G, Maglóczky Z. Alterations in hippocampal and cortical densities of functionally different interneurons in rat models of absence epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 2018; 145:40-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2018.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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18
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Russo E, Citraro R. Pharmacology of epileptogenesis and related comorbidities in the WAG/Rij rat model of genetic absence epilepsy. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 310:54-62. [PMID: 29857008 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Animal studies currently represent the best source of information also in the field of epileptogenesis research. Many animal models have been proposed and studied so far both from the pathophysiological and pharmacological point of view. Furthermore, they are widely used for the identification of potentially clinically valuable biomarkers. The WAG/Rij rat model, similarly to other genetic animal strains, represents a suitable animal model of absence epileptogenesis accompanied by depressive-like and cognitive comorbidities. Generally, animal models of epileptogenesis are characterized by an identifiable initial insult (e.g. traumatic brain injury), a latent phase lasting up to the appearance of the first spontaneous seizure and a chronic phase characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures. In most of genetic models: the initial insult should be defined as the mutation causing epilepsy, which is not clearly defined in the WAG/Rij rat model; the latent phase ends at the appearance of the first spontaneous seizure, which is about 2-3 months of age in WAG/Rij rats and thereafter the chronic phase. WAG/Rij rats also display depressive-like comorbidity around the age of 4 months, which is apparently linked to the development of absence seizures considering both its ontogeny and the fact that drugs affecting absence seizures development also block the development of depressive-like behavior. Finally, WAG/Rij rats also display cognitive impairment in some memory tasks, however, this has not been yet definitively linked to absence seizures development and may represent an epiphenomenon. This review is focused on the effects of pharmacological treatments against epileptogenesis and their effects on comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Russo
- Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Rita Citraro
- Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Italy
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Leo A, Citraro R, Amodio N, De Sarro C, Gallo Cantafio ME, Constanti A, De Sarro G, Russo E. Fingolimod Exerts only Temporary Antiepileptogenic Effects but Longer-Lasting Positive Effects on Behavior in the WAG/Rij Rat Absence Epilepsy Model. Neurotherapeutics 2017; 14:1134-1147. [PMID: 28653281 PMCID: PMC5722759 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-017-0550-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the major challenges in the epilepsy field is identifying disease-modifying drugs in order to prevent or delay spontaneous recurrent seizure onset or to cure already established epilepsy. It has been recently reported that fingolimod, currently approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, has demonstrated antiepileptogenic effects in 2 different preclinical models of acquired epilepsy. However, to date, no data exist regarding the role of fingolimod against genetic epilepsy. Therefore, we have addressed this issue by studying the effects of fingolimod in Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats, a well-established genetic model of absence epilepsy, epileptogenesis, and neuropsychiatric comorbidity. Our results have demonstrated that an early long-term treatment with fingolimod (1 mg/kg/day), started before absence seizure onset, has both antiepileptogenic and antidepressant-like effects in WAG/Rij rats. However, these effects were transitory, as 5 months after treatment discontinuation, both absence seizure and depressive like-behavior returned to control levels. Furthermore, a temporary reduction of mTOR signaling pathway activity, indicated by reduced phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin and phosphorylated p70S6k levels, and by increased phosphorylated Akt in WAG/Rij rats of 6 months of age accompanied the transitory antiepileptogenic effects of fingolimod. Surprisingly, fingolimod has demonstrated longer-lasting positive effects on cognitive decline in this strain. This effect was accompanied by an increased acetylation of lysine 8 of histone H4 (at both 6 and 10 months of age). In conclusion, our results support the antiepileptogenic effects of fingolimod. However, the antiepileptogenic effects were transitory. Moreover, fingolimod might also have a positive impact on animal behavior and particularly in protecting the development of memory decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Leo
- Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rita Citraro
- Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University and Translational Medical Oncology Unit, Salvatore Venuta University Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Caterina De Sarro
- Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Eugenia Gallo Cantafio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University and Translational Medical Oncology Unit, Salvatore Venuta University Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Giovambattista De Sarro
- Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emilio Russo
- Science of Health Department, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
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Citraro R, Leo A, Franco V, Marchiselli R, Perucca E, De Sarro G, Russo E. Perampanel effects in the WAG/Rij rat model of epileptogenesis, absence epilepsy, and comorbid depressive-like behavior. Epilepsia 2016; 58:231-238. [PMID: 27988935 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Perampanel (PER), a selective non-competitive α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-receptor antagonist, exhibits broad-spectrum anticonvulsant activity in several seizure models, but its potential disease-modifying effects have not been investigated. Because of the relevance of AMPA receptors in epileptogenesis and psychiatric comorbidities, we studied the effects of PER in the WAG/Rij rat model of epileptogenesis, absence epilepsy, and depressive-like comorbidity. METHODS We investigated the effects of acute, subchronic, and chronic treatment with PER (0.25-3 mg/kg) on absence seizures, their development, and related psychiatric/neurologic comorbidity in WAG/Rij rats. Depression-related behavior was studied by using the forced swimming and the sucrose preference test; anxiety-related behavior by using the open field and elevated plus maze test; and memory by using the passive avoidance test. RESULTS PER (3 mg/kg/day orally for 17 weeks starting from P30) significantly reduced the development of absence seizures at 6 months of age (1 month after treatment withdrawal), but this effect was not maintained when reassessed 4 months later. Attenuated absence seizure development was accompanied by reduced depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test (FST), whereas no effects were observed on anxiety-related behavior and memory. Subchronic (1 and 3 mg/kg/day orally for 1 week) and acute PER (0.25-1 mg/kg, i.p.) dosing did not affect established absence seizures and behavior. SIGNIFICANCE These results suggest that AMPA receptors are involved in mechanisms of epileptogenesis in an established model of absence epilepsy, and that these mechanisms differ from those responsible for seizure generation and spread when epilepsy has become established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Citraro
- Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonio Leo
- Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Marchiselli
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emilio Perucca
- C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy.,Division of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovambattista De Sarro
- Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emilio Russo
- Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
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Sahin D, Erdolu CO, Karadenizli S, Kara A, Bayrak G, Beyaz S, Demir B, Ates N. Effects of gestational and lactational exposure to low dose mercury chloride (HgCl2) on behaviour, learning and hearing thresholds in WAG/Rij rats. EXCLI JOURNAL 2016; 15:391-402. [PMID: 27540351 PMCID: PMC4983802 DOI: 10.17179/excli2016-315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of inorganic mercury exposure during gestational/lactational periods on the behaviour, learning and hearing functions in a total of 32, 5-week-old and 5-month-old WAG/Rij rats (equally divided into 4 groups as 5-week and 5-month control mercury exposure groups). We evaluated the rats in terms of locomotor activity (LA), the Morris-water-maze (MWM) test and the passive avoidance (PA) test to quantify learning and memory performance; we used distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests to evaluate hearing ability. There were no significant differences between the 5-week-old rat groups in LA, and we detected a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the HgCl2-treated group in PA, MWM and DPOAE tests compared with the control group. The HgCl2-treated 5-week-old group exhibited worse emotional memory performance in PA, worse spatial learning and memory performances in MWM. There were no significant differences between the groups of 5-month-old rats in LA, MWM or PA. However, the DPOAE tests worsened in the mid- and high-frequency hearing thresholds. The HgCl2-treated 5-month-old group exhibited the most hearing loss of all groups. Our results convey that mercury exposure in young rats may worsen learning and memory performances as well as hearing at high-frequency levels. While there was no statistically significant difference in the behavior and learning tests in adult rats, the DPOAE test produced poorer results. Early detection of effects of mercury exposure provides medicals team with an opportunity to determinate treatment regimens and mitigate ototoxicity. DPOAE test can be used in clinical and experimental research investigating heavy metal ototoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Sahin
- Kocaeli University / Medical Faculty, Physiology, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | | | | | - Ahmet Kara
- Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Sakarya,Turkey
| | - Gunce Bayrak
- Kocaeli University / Medical Faculty, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Sumeyye Beyaz
- Kocaeli University / Medical Faculty, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Buse Demir
- Kocaeli University / Medical Faculty, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Nurbay Ates
- Kocaeli University / Medical Faculty, Physiology, Kocaeli, Turkey
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22
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Gocmez SS, Gacar N, Utkan T, Gacar G, Scarpace PJ, Tumer N. Protective effects of resveratrol on aging-induced cognitive impairment in rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 131:131-6. [PMID: 27040098 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Resveratrol, a polyphenol phytoalexine, has been shown to play a neuroprotective role in the neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and improve memory function in dementia. However, the in vivo effect of resveratrol in normal aging models of learning and memory has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, the present neurobehavioral study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on cognitive impairment induced by aging in passive avoidance and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: young control (4month), young resveratrol (4month+RESV), old control (24month) and old resveratrol (24month+RESV). Resveratrol (50mg/kg/day) was given to the 4month+RESV and 24month+RESV groups orally for 12weeks. There was no significant difference between the groups for the first day of latency, while in aged rats, the second day of latency was significantly shortened compared to the young group in the passive avoidance test (p<0.05). Additionally, in the MWM test, the results showed a decrease in the time spent in the escape platform's quadrant in the probe test in aged rats (p<0.05). The administration of resveratrol at 50mg/kg/day increased the retention scores in the passive avoidance test and the time spent in the escape platform's quadrant in the MWM task (p<0.05). Furthermore resveratrol attenuated the protein levels of TNFα and IL1β in the 24-month group. These findings indicate that aging impairs emotional and spatial learning-memory and resveratrol reverses the effect of age-related learning and memory impairment. The results of this study suggest that resveratrol is effective in preventing cognitive deficit in aged rats by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semil Selcen Gocmez
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Nejat Gacar
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Tijen Utkan
- Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kocaeli, Turkey; Kocaeli University, Experimental Medical Research and Application Centre, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Gulcin Gacar
- Kocaeli University, Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice, Institute of Health Sciences, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Philip J Scarpace
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Nihal Tumer
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL, United States
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23
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Jafarian M, Karimzadeh F, Alipour F, Attari F, Lotfinia AA, Speckmann EJ, Zarrindast MR, Gorji A. Cognitive impairments and neuronal injury in different brain regions of a genetic rat model of absence epilepsy. Neuroscience 2015; 298:161-70. [PMID: 25907443 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Growing numbers of evidence indicate that cognitive impairments are part of clinical profile of childhood absence epilepsy. Little is known on neuropathological changes accompanied by cognitive deficits in absence epilepsy. The aim of the present study was to investigate age-dependent neuropathological changes accompanied by learning and memory impairments in Wistar Albino Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rat model of absence epilepsy. Experimental groups were divided into four groups of six rats of both WAG/Rij and Wistar strains with 2 and 6 months of age. The learning and memory performances were assessed using passive avoidance paradigm and neuropathological alterations were investigated by the evaluation of the number of dark neurons and apoptotic cells as well as the expression of caspase-3 in the neocortex, the hippocampus, and different regions of the thalamus. Results revealed a decline in learning and spatial memory of 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats compared to age-matched Wistar rats as well as 2-month-old WAG/Rij and Wistar rats. The mean number of dark neurons was significantly higher in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas as well as in the laterodorsal, centromedial, and reticular thalamic nuclei and the somatosensory cortex of 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats. In addition, a higher number of apoptotic cells as well as a higher expression of caspase-3 was observed in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions, the laterodorsal thalamic nucleus, and the somatosensory cortex of 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats compared to other animal groups. These results indicate significant enhancement of neuronal damage and cell death accompanied by memory deficits after seizure attacks in a rat model of absence epilepsy. Seizure-induced neuronal injury and death may underlie cognitive impairments in absence epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jafarian
- School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Shefa Neuroscience Research Centre, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - F Karimzadeh
- Shefa Neuroscience Research Centre, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - F Alipour
- Shefa Neuroscience Research Centre, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - F Attari
- Shefa Neuroscience Research Centre, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - A A Lotfinia
- Shefa Neuroscience Research Centre, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - E-J Speckmann
- Epilepsy Research Center, Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurophysiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - M-R Zarrindast
- School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - A Gorji
- Shefa Neuroscience Research Centre, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran; Epilepsy Research Center, Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurophysiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany.
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Karson A, Utkan T, Balcı F, Arıcıoğlu F, Ateş N. Erratum: Age-dependent decline in learning and memory performances of WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy. Behav Brain Funct 2015; 11:12. [PMID: 25886443 PMCID: PMC4375851 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-014-0052-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ayşe Karson
- Medical School, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe, Kocaeli, 41380, Turkey.
| | - Tijen Utkan
- Medical School, Department of Pharmacology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Fuat Balcı
- Department of Psychology, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Feyza Arıcıoğlu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Nurbay Ateş
- Medical School, Department of Physiology, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe, Kocaeli, 41380, Turkey.
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25
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Phillips AM, Kim T, Vargas E, Petrou S, Reid CA. Spike-and-wave discharge mediated reduction in hippocampal HCN1 channel function associates with learning deficits in a genetic mouse model of epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 64:30-5. [PMID: 24368169 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The GABAAγ2(R43Q) mouse is an established model of absence epilepsy displaying spontaneous spike-and-wave discharges (SWD) and associated behavioral arrest. Absence epilepsy typically results from cortico-thalamic networks. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence for changes in hippocampal metabolism and electrical behavior, consistent with a link between absence seizures and hippocampus-related co-morbidities. Hyperpolarization-activated-cyclic-nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are known to be transcriptionally regulated in a number of seizure models. Here we investigate the expression and function of these channels in the hippocampus of the genetic epilepsy model. A reduction in HCN1, but not HCN2 transcript, was observed in GABAAγ2(R43Q) mice relative to their littermate controls. In contrast, no change in HCN1 transcript was noted at an age prior to seizure expression or in a SWD-free model in which the R43Q mutation has been crossed into a seizure-resistant genetic background. Whole-cell recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons confirm a reduction in Ih in the GABAAγ2(R43Q) mouse. Further, a left-shift in half-activation of the Ih conductance-voltage relationship is consistent with a reduction in HCN1 with no change in HCN2 channel expression. Behavioral analysis using the Morris water maze indicates that GABAAγ2(R43Q) mice are unable to learn as effectively as their wildtype littermates suggesting a deficit in hippocampal-based learning. SWD-free mice harboring the R43Q mutation had no learning deficit. We conclude that SWDs reduce hippocampal HCN1 expression and function, and that the reduction associates with a spatial learning deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Marie Phillips
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia; Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
| | - Taehwan Kim
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia; Centre for Neural Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Ernesto Vargas
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
| | - Steven Petrou
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia; Centre for Neural Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Christopher A Reid
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
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