Showing papers on "Epileptogenesis published in 1996"

Hyperexcitability in a Model of Cortical Maldevelopment

Abstract: The presence of developmental cortical malformations has been associated with the occurrence of epilepsy, and correlative anatomic-clinical electrophysiological studies suggest that microdysgenic lesions may actually initiate epileptiform activity. We have investigated the electrophysiological properties of an animal model of polymicrogyria created by making cortical freeze lesions in rat pups at P0 or P1. Such lesions create microgyri with histological features similar to those of human polymicrogyria. We have determined that there is a focal region of hyperexcitability around the lesion in this rat microgyrus. Field potentials evoked by stimulation within a few millimeters of the microgyrus have characteristics typical of epileptiform activity. This aberrant activity is seen as early as 12 d after the lesion, as well as in animals as old as 118 d. Immunochemical staining for the calcium binding protein, parvalbumin, shows a decrease in neuronal and neuropil staining within the microgyrus. These findings suggest that inhibition might be decreased within the lesion, which may contribute to generation of the adjacent hyperexcitable region. These results demonstrate that this animal model is appropriate for examining the mechanisms contributing to epileptogenesis associated with a cortical malformation.

On the Structure of Ictal Events in Vitro

Abstract: Summary: Purpose: To analyze the cellular and network mechanisms of sustained seizures, we reviewed the literature and present new data on in vitro epileptiform events. We considered single and recurring synchronized population bursts occurring on a time scale from tens of milliseconds to I min. Methods: We used intracellular and field potential recordings, together with computer network simulations, derived from three types of experimental epileptogenesis: γ-aminobutyric-acidA, (GABAA) blockade, low extracellular [Mg2+]0, and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Results: In all three models, sustained depolarizing synaptic currents developed, either through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, depolarizing GABAA, receptors, or both. Ectopic action potentials (APs), probably originating in axonal structures, occurred in 4-AP and (as shown by other researchers) after tetanic stimulation; ectopic APs, occurring at sufficient frequency. should also depolarize dendrites, by synaptic excitation, enough to trigger bursts. Conclusions: Ictal-like events appear to arise from two basic mechanisms. The first mechanism consists of sustained dendritic depolarization driving a series of dendritic bursts. The second mechanism consists of an increase in axonal and presynaptic terminal excitability driving a series of bursts analogous to interictal spikes.

Developmental Aspects of Epileptogenesis

Abstract: Several factors may contribute to the propensity for the developing brain to have seizures and develop epilepsy. Hypersynchrony of neuronal circuits contributes to the seizure potential and several neurobiological features of the immature brain may support synchronized neuronal firing. The immature cerebral cortex and hippocampus have an increased density of synapses compared to adults and also a higher density of gap junctions and of excitatory amino acid receptors. Enhanced regenerative responses to injury in the developing brain may also contribute to the formation of abnormal hippocampal connections that support epilepsy. Molecular mechanisms that contribute to enhanced synaptic plasticity in the child's brain can also contribute to epileptogenesis in certain circumstances. The phenomenon of kindling, where repeated electrical stimulation of neuronal circuits leads to the development of epileptic seizures, is easily elicited in young animals. Long-term potentiation (LTP), where repeated synaptic stimulation leads to a reduced threshold for activation of that pathway and enhanced postsynaptic potentials, is much more robust in the immature cerebral cortex and may contribute to kindling and epileptogenesis. Age related enhancement of N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors, which are important for the activity dependent plasticity in the developing brain, appears to participate in LTP. This information suggests that normal developmental features of synaptic development make the immature brain more excitable than the adult brain and may contribute to epileptogenesis.

Status epilepticus causes selective regional damage and loss of GABAergic neurons in the rat amygdaloid complex.

Abstract: In human epilepsy, the amygdala is often a primary focus for seizures. To analyse the status epilepticus-induced alterations in the amygdaloid circuitries which may later underlie epileptogenesis, we studied the amygdaloid damage in kainic acid and perforant pathway stimulation models of status epilepticus in the rat. We also studied the damage to inhibitory GABAergic neurons. In both models, the medial division of the lateral nucleus, the parvicellular division of the basal nucleus and portions of the anterior cortical and medical nuclei were damaged. In the kainate model, where the seizure activity was more severe, the accessory basal nucleus, amygdalohippocampal area, posterior cortical nucleus and periamygdaloid cortex were also damaged. Two weeks after kainate-induced seizures, 56% of the GABA-immunoreactive neurons remained in the lateral nucleus (P < 0.05) and 25% in the basal nucleus (P < 0.01). Further analysis showed that one subpopulation of damaged GABAergic neurons was immunoreactive for somatostatin (48% remaining in the lateral nucleus, P < 0.01; 33% in the basal nucleus, P < 0.01). In the perforant pathway stimulation model, the damage to somatostatin neurons was milder. According to our data, the initial insult, such as status epilepticus, selectively damages amygdaloid nuclei. The loss of inhibition may underlie the spontaneous generation of seizures and epileptogenesis. On the other hand, many amygdaloid output nuclei (magnocellular and intermediate division of the basal nucleus, the central nucleus) remained relatively undamaged, providing pathways for seizures spread and generation of seizure-related behavioural manifestations such as motor convulsions and fear response.

Development of a novel rat mutant with spontaneous limbic-like seizures.

Abstract: A new epileptic rat mutant with spontaneous seizures was developed by successive mating and selection from an inherited cataract rat. The procedures for developing the mutant and the symptomatology, electroencephalographic correlates, and neuropathology of the mutant are reported. It is possible that this rat stain will provide a useful animal model for human temporal lobe epilepsy. The seizures of the rat usually begin with face and head myoclonus, followed by rearing, and generalized clonic and tonic convulsions, all of which are symptomatologically the same as limbic seizures. Electrographic recording during generalized convulsive seizures demonstrated that sustained spike discharges emerged at the hippocampus and then propagated to the neocortex. Seizures occurred spontaneously without any artificial stimuli. Furthermore, external stimuli such as auditory, flashing light, or vestibular stimulations could not elicit epileptic attacks. Almost all of the male animals had generalized convulsions, mostly from 5 months after birth, and the frequency of the seizures increased with aging. Generalized convulsions developed in approximately 20% of the female rats. Microdysgenesis, such as abnormal neuronal clustering, neuronal disarrangement, or interruption of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal formation, was found in the young rats that had not yet had generalized seizures. This microdysgenesis, which is though to be genetically programmed, was very interesting from the aspect of the relationship between structural abnormalities and epileptogenesis in this mutant. In addition to microdysgenesis, there was sprouting of mossy fibers into the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in those adult rats that had repeated generalized convulsions. An increase of glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein-positive astrocytes with thickened and numerous processes, ie, astrogliosis, was also found in the cerebral cortex, amygdala region, and hippocampus of these adult animals. Judging from the characteristics of the symptomatology, electroencephalographic correlates, and neuropathology, this epileptic mutant can be expected to be a useful animal model for studying human temporal lobe epilepsy.

Kindling-induced epileptiform potentials in piriform cortex slices originate in the underlying endopiriform nucleus

Abstract: 1. Previous studies in vivo and in vitro have shown that kindling from several locations in the limbic system induces the onset of epileptiform activity in the piriform (olfactory) cortex in the rat. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that kindled epileptiform events in piriform cortex are initiated in the underlying endopiriform nucleus. The experiments were performed in slices taken from rats that were previously kindled by conventional means. 2. Both stimulus-evoked and spontaneous interictal-like epileptiform events were observed in most slices from the anterior piriform cortex, but in few slices from the posterior piriform cortex. These events resembled those described in unanesthetized and urethan-anesthetized rats in previous studies. 3. Findings in support of the hypothesis were as follows. Epileptiform events in the endopiriform nucleus preceded those in the piriform cortex. Epileptiform events could occur in endopiriform nucleus alone, but were only observed in the piriform cortex following occurrence in the endopiriform nucleus. A buildup in population activity preceded the onset of all-or-none epileptiform events in the endopiriform nucleus. Epileptiform events could be triggered by local application of glutamate in the endopiriform nucleus and adjacent claustrum, but not from the piriform cortex. Finally, local application of Co2+ in the endopiriform nucleus, but not in the piriform cortex or elsewhere in the slices, blocked the occurrence of epileptiform events. 4. Additional experiments were performed to further characterize the generation process. 6,7-Dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) blocked epileptiform events and the preceding accelerating buildup in multiunit activity at a concentration below that required to block the monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP). This suggests that EPSPs mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors underlie epileptiform events in slices of piriform cortex, and that multisynaptic interactions within the endopiriform nucleus are required for generation of these epileptiform EPSPs. By contrast, block of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors decreased the amplitude of epileptiform EPSPs but did not block their occurrence, indicating that NMDA receptors contribute to generation but are not required. When membrane potential was depolarized to increase driving force, fast inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were found to consistently accompany the buildup process and epileptiform EPSPs. This indicates that if initiation of epileptiform activity in the endopiriform nucleus results from a compromise in feedback inhibition, this compromise is partial rather than complete. 5. Epileptiform EPSPs in slices of piriform cortex from kindled rats displayed similarities in properties, locus of origin, and mechanism of generation to those previously studied in slices from normal rats in which epileptiform activity was induced by a brief period of bursting activity. These similarities suggest that study of bursting-induced epileptiform EPSPs may provide insight into certain aspects of kindling-induced epileptogenesis.

Recent advances related to basic mechanisms of epileptogenesis

Abstract: A variety of clinical observations suggest that certain forms of epilepsy are due to long-term, progressive changes in neural networks that eventually provoke spontaneous and recurring seizures. This process of network transformation, known as epileptogenesis, is a potentially important therapeutic target and also serves as an extremely interesting model of central nervous system plasticity. This article reviews some of the significant, recent advances in our understanding of mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis in different forms of epilepsy. The most substantial progress has been made in work related to temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), where the biochemical, electrophysiological and anatomical changes in the hippocampus have been intensively studied. This has led to a number of cogent and testable hypotheses, including the concept that dentate granule cell hyperexcitability in TLE is due to a selective loss of hilar neurons that renders inhibitory cells 'dormant.' Studies of other forms of focal epilepsy suggest that a seizure focus may develop as a result of axonal reorganization or immune-mediated effects on membrane channels. Epileptogenesis in generalized epilepsies remains poorly understood, although recent work using models of absence epilepsy point to the critical role of GABAB or T-type calcium channels in the thalamus. Also, new transgenic mouse lines with epilepsy phenotypes have introduced candidate genes, such as those encoding the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor or the alpha subunit of calcium/calmodulin kinase II, that may be responsible for epileptogenesis. Finally, a large amount of investigation has focused on seizure-induced gene expression and it is now clear that seizures can cause a cascade of changes in the expression of gene products that are likely to play a role in network plasticity. Progress in developing 'anti-epileptogenic' therapies will require further advances in understanding the mechanistic roles of these various biochemical and anatomical changes in the transformation of normal to hyperexcitable neural networks.

Electrophysiological aspects of interictal and ictal activity in human partial epilepsy.

Abstract: Considerable attention has been paid in recent times to cellular and synaptic mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis. A number of in vivo and in vitro animal models are now available to study basic mechanisms of epileptogenesis and to select and evaluate antiepileptic compounds which could be potentially effective in human epilepsy. Although this approach has been useful for practical purposes, conceptual implications of epileptogenesis and neurophysiology in general, there is still a gap in the understanding of human epilepsy in the light of basic mechanisms of epileptogenesis. This appears to be particularly true for partial epilepsy since animal models are usually generated by environmental factors which are not common causes of partial epilepsy in humans and cellular aspects of human epileptogenesis have only been studied in very particular circumstances 1-3. The chronic implantation of intracranial electrodes in epileptic patients being assessed for surgery allows the study of ictal and interictal electrical activity from regions which are usually inaccessible to scalp recordings. Apart from their primary purpose in the localization of epileptic loci, the study of human intracranial recordings can provide an insight into some electrophysiological aspects of human epileptogenesis and provide a bridge between the reductionist approach of cellular animal studies and the noninvasive approach of more standard electrophysiological studies in humans. A particularly important problem in human partial epilepsy is the identification and delimitation of the epileptogenic zone (that region of tissue the removal or

Regulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels in rat brain by seizure activity

Abstract: The regulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA levels during kindling epileptogenesis in the rat brain was investigated using in situ hybridization. Following 40 rapidly recurring seizures evoked by hippocampal stimulations, NOS mRNA expression decreased by 56% in the dentate granule cell layer (maximum at 2 h) and increased by 420,105 and 1260% in the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal layers and piriform cortex, respectively (maximum at 12-24 h). Gene expression had returned to control levels after one week. The presumed alterations of nitric oxide production, following the changes in NOS mRNA shown here, may modulate synaptic function during kindling development, and could influence neuronal vulnerability after epileptic insults.