强直电刺激嗅内皮质—海马环路诱发CAI神经元的癫痫同步性膜电位振？…

目的和方法：４００－５００μｍ大鼠水平脑切片吸封闭的ＥＣ－海马环路。强直电刺激（６０Ｈｚ,２ｓ）海马Ｓｃｈａｅｆｆｅｒ侧支诱发癫痫放电,全细胞记录ＣＡ１胞体层单个神经元电活动,同步记录相应树突外场电位,探讨单个神经元膜电位振荡特性和细胞外癫痫电活动之间的关系。结果：（１）强直电刺激诱发ＣＡ１神经元膜电位后放性振呈宽频特征（３－１００ＨＺ）。以θ节律多见,跟随在刺激引起的膜电位去极化或超极化偏移之后     

大鼠离体脑片癫痫放电特征及EC—海马环路的作用

目的和方法：采用４００～５００μｍ大鼠水平脑切片强直电刺激海马Ｓｃｈａｅｆｅｒ侧枝（６０Ｈｚ、２ｓ）全细胞、细胞外同步记录ＣＡ１神经元胞体电活动和相应树突区场电位,探讨其在癫痫发生中的作用。结果：①５３片脑片上记录到细胞内、外同步发生的原发性后放,持续２０ｓ以上,放电形式和持续时间常在第６个刺激串后趋于稳定。ＣＡ１神经元的原发性后放常跟在强直电刺激引起的阵发性去极化或超极化偏移之后（ＰＤＳ、ＰＨＳ）。它可以从紧张性放电向爆发性放电转化,振幅逐渐递增并与细胞外癫痫样放电同步,产生癫痫放电极性偏移;②其中８／４０脑片细胞外可记录到继发性后放之后出现的自发性发作样癫痫放电,长达数分钟,与全细胞记录的ＥＰＳＰ同步。切断ＥＣ与海马之间的联系可以易化海马癫痫电活动（３／５）。结论：ＥＣ输入到海马的神经通路可能在封闭的ＥＣ海马环路中起着重要的门控作用     

双歧杆菌生态制品对海人酸模型抗癫痫作用的初步观察

用海人峻（ＫａｉｎｉｃＡｃｉｄ,ＫＡ）１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ给ＳＤｋ鼠皮下注射,注射后０－１／２ｈ之内,动物出现凝视和湿狗样抖动;１／２－２ｈ,动物出现癫痫发作（严重程度从１级发展至５级）;２ｈ后,动物反复自发出现严重的癫痫发作;４ｈ减弱;８ｈ停止。实验组动物分别于１或３周前开始并连续从饮水中定量投喂双歧杆菌活菌制剂（０．５ｇ／天／只）。结果表明,预先投喂该生态制品持续达３周组大鼠其癫痫发作受到明显抑制与对照组比较Ｐ＜０．０１。     

反复癫痫发作对大鼠光辨别学习的影响及机制探讨

本研究在遗传性听源性癫痫大鼠模型上,采用了行为和放射免疫分析相结合的方法,研究了大鼠反复癫痫发作对光辨别学习的影响及心脑组织中Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）含量的改变。结果表明：（１）随癫痫发作频率增高,大鼠光辨别学习能力明显减弱。表现为达到学会标准所需时间明显延长（Ｐ＜０．００１）,达标率明显降低（Ｐ＜０．００１）。（２）癫痫发作后,大鼠下丘脑和海马中ＳＰ含量明显降低（Ｐ＜０．００１）,而颞叶皮层和心肌组织ＳＰ     

局限性癫痫脑电时间序列的三种复杂度计算比较

为探索非线性动力学复杂性测度诊断癫痫病的新方法,对局限性癫痫病患者脑电时间序列进行了三种复杂度（Ｋｃ、Ｃ１、Ｃ２）的计算比较。观察到,痫性导联脑电的三种复杂度多低于对侧导联的值;复杂度Ｋｃ的相对变化量较Ｃ１和Ｃ２大;复杂度Ｋｃ和Ｃ１的变化趋势相似,而复杂度Ｃ２的变化趋势与复杂度Ｋｃ和Ｃ１的规律不尽相同;但正常人ＥＥＧ信号的复杂度没有这种显著变化。结果提示,脑电复杂性测度有可能成为诊断癫痫的特征参数,值得进一步深入研究。     

基于大脑皮层信息传输的脑电信息图示方法

提出一种基于大脑皮层信息传输的脑电地形图示方法—脑电信息图（Ｂｒａｉｎ ＩｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎＭａｐｐｉｎｇ － ＢＩＭ） 。其原理是从不同导联电极上采集脑电信号经相空间重建构成头皮电位信息传输矩阵, 将各导联信息传输时间序列的信息传输量和复杂度数据绘制成头皮拓扑分布图, 以直观地反映脑电信息传输分布模式在不同时相中的变化进程。该方法不仅是从新的角度观察大脑功能变化, 而且可克服传统的脑电频谱分段地形图不能表达长程脑电模式变化的不足。对局限性癫痫病患者的试用表明,脑电信息图能较好地反映癫痫发作前后的信息传输动向和复杂度（Ｋｃ 、Ｃ１ 、Ｃ２） 的变化趋势。结果提示,脑电信息图（ＢＩＭ） 有可能成为一种新的观察大脑功能活动的图示诊断方法,值得进一步深入研究。     

微生态调节剂抗癫痫敏感性形成作用中神经胶质原纤维酸性蛋 …

用红藻氨酸（ＫａｉｎｉｃＡｃｉｄ，ＫＡ）１２ｍｇ／ｋｇ给ＳＤ大鼠颈部皮下注射，诱发动物出现癫痫发作，该癫痫发作于８小时内完全缓解，ＫＡ后１周再次给予ＫＡ（此次为阈下剂量５ｍｇ／ｋｇ）检测上述动物对癫痫刺激的敏感性，结果表明，与对照组比较，于４周前开始并连续灌服微生态调节剂实验组动物癫痫敏感性形成受到明显抑制（Ｐ〈０．００１），同时用免疫细胞化学方法观察大鼠脑内马部位星形胶质细胞的神经胶质原纤维酸性     

癫痫病人脑电信号的奇异谱

癫痫是一种常见的神经系统疾患,其唯一客观证据为脑电图的癫痫样发放。在癫痫发作间期,仅有偶发的很难辨别的癫痫样放电,为了正确诊断癫痫病,往往需要医生长时间监测病人的脑电信号,在对脑电信号进行相空间重构,进而对其进行奇异系统分析,发现癫痫病人无论在癫痫发作前、发作中、发作后,其脑电信号的奇异谱曲线不存在噪声平台,明显区别于正常人。是否可以认为脑电信号的奇异谱正代表着大脑的一种基本状态,癫痫患者在未发作时,大脑的基本状态已经处于异常。无论如休,奇异系统分析方法使得可以利用很短的一段脑电数据诊断癫痫。无疑为癫痫病人的临床诊断提供了一条简单、有效的途径。     

壳聚糖磷脂复合物对老年性痴呆患者脑功能的影响

目的：观察壳聚糖磷脂复合物（CPC）对老年性痴呆患者脑功能的影响。方法：采用脑电超慢涨落图仪（ET）分别测定对照组和试验组的S谱线,分析脑内神经递质的含量。结果：服用CPC2月后,经ET检测,S1、S5谱线明显增高（P〈0．01）,S2谱线增高（P〈0．05）。结论：CPC能改善老年性痴呆患者的脑功能。     

癫痫大鼠与正常大鼠脑中钙调神经磷酸酶及其底物的研究

报道了听源性癫痫大鼠发作后其脑内钙调神经磷酸酶（Ｃａｌｃｉｎｅｕｒｉｎ,ＣａＮ）及其底物蛋白磷酸化水平的改变,以ＰＮＰＰ为底物测ＣａＮ的活力,用间接ＥＬＩＳＡ测ＣａＮ的含量,ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和２－Ｄ－ＰＡＧＥ并放射自显影的方法研究脑内蛋白质磷酸化水平,发现与正常大鼠相比,听源性癫痫大鼠发作后,脑内ＣａＮ的含量并没有改变,但比活力下降,其底物的磷酸化状态也有改变,其中一个３０ｋＤ蛋白磷酸化程度明显降     

Role of limbic structures in the mechanisms of post-traumatic epilepsy]

It was shown in the experiments on rats that intracerebroventricular administration of kainic acid (0.01, 0.05 microgram) after brain trauma, resulted in the occurrence of behavioral and electrographic convulsive disturbances; maximal expression of epileptic activity was obtained in entorhinal cortex and ventral hippocampus. Kainic acid induced epileptic reactions in nontraumatized rats only if injected in dose 0.1 microgram. Brain trauma did not lead to changes in seizures intensity induced by systemic picrotoxin administration. It is concluded that the formation of generator of pathologically enhanced excitation in limbic structures via increase of excitor glutamatergic neurotransmission is the important mechanism of traumatic epilepsy.     

Targeting brain and peripheral plasticity of the lipidome in acute kainic acid-induced epileptic seizures in mice via quantitative mass spectrometry

Epilepsy is a highly common chronic neurological disorder, manifested in many different types, affecting ~ 1% of the worldwide human population. The molecular mechanisms of epileptogenesis have not yet been clarified, and pharmacoresistance exhibited by 30–40% of epilepsy patients remains a major obstacle in medical care. Growing evidence indicates a role of lipid signalling pathways in epileptogenesis, thus lipid signals emerge as potential biomarkers for the onset and evolving course of the epileptic disorder, as well as potential therapeutic agents and targets. For this purpose, we applied a lipidomic strategy to unravel lipid alterations in brain regions, periphery tissues and plasma that are specific for acute epileptic seizures in mice at 1 h after seizure induction by systemic kainic acid injection as compared to vehicle controls. Specifically, levels of (i) selected phospholipids and sphingomyelins, (ii) the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), and the endocannabinoid-related compounds oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), (iii) arachidonic acid (AA), (iv) selected eicosanoids, and (v) fatty acyl content of lipidome were determined in pulverized tissues from six brain regions of kainic acid induced epileptic seizure models and vehicle controls: hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, striatum, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, and from peripheral organs, such as heart and lungs, and in plasma. Alterations in lipid levels after acute epileptic seizures as compared to non-seizure controls were found to be brain region- and periphery tissue-specific, including specific plasma lipid correlates, highlighting their value as marker candidates in translational research studies, and/or drug discovery and response monitoring.     

Epileptic seizures and oxidative stress in a mouse model over-expressing spermine oxidase

Several studies have demonstrated high polyamine levels in brain diseases such as epilepsy. Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages. Excitotoxic stress has been associated with epilepsy and it is considered one of the main causes of neuronal degeneration and death. The transgenic mouse line Dach-SMOX, with CD1 background, specifically overexpressing spermine oxidase in brain cortex, has been proven to be highly susceptible to epileptic seizures and excitotoxic stress induced by kainic acid. In this study, we analysed the effect of spermine oxidase over-expression in a different epileptic model, pentylenetetrazole. Behavioural evaluations of transgenic mice compared to controls showed a higher susceptibility towards pentylentetrazole. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of transgenic brain from treated mice revealed altered polyamine content. Immunoistochemical analysis indicated a rise of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine, demonstrating an increase in oxidative damage, and an augmentation of system xc− as a defence mechanism. This cascade of events can be initially linked to an increase in protein kinase C alpha, as shown by Western blot. This research points out the role of spermine oxidase, as a hydrogen peroxide producer, in the oxidative stress during epilepsy. Moreover, Dach-SMOX susceptibility demonstrated by two different epileptic models strongly indicates this transgenic mouse line as a potential animal model to study epilepsy.     

DNA Methylation Mediates Persistent Epileptiform Activity In Vitro and In Vivo

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder involving recurring seizures often precipitated by an earlier neuronal insult. The mechanisms that link the transient neuronal insult to the lasting state of epilepsy are unknown. Here we tested the possible role of DNA methylation in mediating long-term induction of epileptiform activity by transient kainic acid exposure using in vitro and in vivo rodent models. We analyzed changes in the gria2 gene, which encodes for the GluA2 subunit of the ionotropic glutamate, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole proprionic acid receptor and is well documented to play a role in epilepsy. We show that kainic acid exposure for two hours to mouse hippocampal slices triggers methylation of a 5’ regulatory region of the gria2 gene. Increase in methylation persists one week after removal of the drug, with concurrent suppression of gria2 mRNA expression levels. The degree of kainic acid-induced hypermethylation of gria2 5’ region varies between individual slices and correlates with the changes in excitability induced by kainic acid. In a rat in vivo model of post kainic acid-induced epilepsy, we show similar hypermethylation of the 5’ region of gria2. Inter-individual variations in gria2 methylation, correlate with the frequency and intensity of seizures among epileptic rats. Luciferase reporter assays support a regulatory role for methylation of gria2 5’ region. Inhibition of DNA methylation by RG108 blocked kainic acid-induced hypermethylation of gria2 5’ region in hippocampal slice cultures and bursting activity. Our results suggest that DNA methylation of such genes as gria2 mediates persistent epileptiform activity and inter-individual differences in the epileptic response to neuronal insult and that pharmacological agents that block DNA methylation inhibit epileptiform activity raising the prospect of DNA methylation inhibitors in epilepsy therapeutics.     

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity increased by two different types of epileptic seizures that do not induce neuronal death: A possible role in homeostatic synaptic plasticity

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) degrade or modify extracellular matrix or membrane-bound proteins in the brain. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are activated by treatments that result in a sustained neuronal depolarization and are thought to contribute to neuronal death and structural remodeling. At the synapse, MMP actions on extracellular proteins contribute to changes in synaptic efficacy during learning paradigms. They are also activated during epileptic seizures, and MMP-9 has been associated with the establishment of aberrant synaptic connections after neuronal death induced by kainate treatment. It remains unclear whether MMPs are activated by epileptic activities that do not induce cell death. Here we examine this point in two animal models of epilepsy that do not involve extensive cell damage. We detected an elevation of MMP-9 enzymatic activity in cortical regions of secondary generalization after focal seizures induced by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) application in rats. Pro-MMP-9 levels were also higher in Wistar Glaxo Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats, a genetic model of generalized absence epilepsy, than they were in Sprague–Dawley rats, and this elevation was correlated with diurnally occurring spike-wave-discharges in WAG/Rij rats. The increased enzymatic activity of MMP-9 in these two different epilepsy models is associated with synchronized neuronal activity that does not induce widespread cell death. In these epilepsy models MMP-9 induction may therefore be associated with functions such as homeostatic synaptic plasticity rather than neuronal death.     

Systemic Injection of Kainic Acid Differently Affects LTP Magnitude Depending on its Epileptogenic Efficiency

Seizures have profound impact on synaptic function and plasticity. While kainic acid is a popular method to induce seizures and to potentially affect synaptic plasticity, it can also produce physiological-like oscillations and trigger some forms of long-term potentiation (LTP). Here, we examine whether induction of LTP is altered in hippocampal slices prepared from rats with different sensitivity to develop status epilepticus (SE) by systemic injection of kainic acid. Rats were treated with multiple low doses of kainic acid (5 mg/kg; i.p.) to develop SE in a majority of animals (72–85% rats). A group of rats were resistant to develop SE (15–28%) after several accumulated doses. Animals were subsequently tested using chronic recordings and object recognition tasks before brain slices were prepared for histological studies and to examine basic features of hippocampal synaptic function and plasticity, including input/output curves, paired-pulse facilitation and theta-burst induced LTP. Consistent with previous reports in kindling and pilocapine models, LTP was reduced in rats that developed SE after kainic acid injection. These animals exhibited signs of hippocampal sclerosis and developed spontaneous seizures. In contrast, resistant rats did not become epileptic and had no signs of cell loss and mossy fiber sprouting. In slices from resistant rats, theta-burst stimulation induced LTP of higher magnitude when compared with control and epileptic rats. Variations on LTP magnitude correlate with animals’ performance in a hippocampal-dependent spatial memory task. Our results suggest dissociable long-term effects of treatment with kainic acid on synaptic function and plasticity depending on its epileptogenic efficiency.     

Energetic,oxidative and ionic exchange in rat brain and liver mitochondria at experimental audiogenic epilepsy (Krushinsky–Molodkina model)

The role of brain and liver mitochondria at epileptic seizure was studied on Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats which respond to sound with an intensive epileptic seizure (audiogenic epilepsy). We didn't find significant changes in respiration rats of brain and liver mitochondria of KM and control rats; however the efficiency of АТР synthesis in the KM rat mitochondria was 10% lower. In rats with audiogenic epilepsy the concentration of oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde in mitochondria of the brain (but not liver) was 2-fold higher than that in the control rats. The rate of H₂O₂ generation in brain mitochondria of КМ rats was twofold higher than in the control animals when using NAD-dependent substrates. This difference was less pronounced in liver mitochondria. In KM rats, the activity of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel was lower than in liver mitochondria of control rats. The comparative study of the mitochondria ability to retain calcium ions revealed that in the case of using the complex I and complex II substrates, permeability transition pore is easier to trigger in brain and liver mitochondria of KM and КМs rats than in the control ones. The role of the changes in the energetic, oxidative, and ionic exchange in the mechanism of audiogenic epilepsy generation in rats and the possible correction of the epilepsy seizures are discussed.     

Effect of penicillin G-induced epileptic seizures on hemorheological parameters in rats

Normally, cerebral blood flow (CBF) is quantitatively coupled to cerebral metabolic rate like other tissues and maintained basically by altering vascular geometry and appropriate perfusion pressure. However, the rheological properties of the blood are important factors for effective tissue perfusion. Although a lot of studies have reported that hemorheological parameters are affected by a wide range of pathophysiological conditions, to our knowledge no research related to the effects of epileptic seizures on hemorheological parameters has been carried out. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore possible changes in rheological parameters including red blood cell (RBC) deformability, rigidity and aggregation, whole blood and plasma viscosity during epileptic seizures induced by penicillin G in rats. Eighteen female albino rats were divided into three groups that included sham operated controls (Group S), epileptic group (Group E), intraperitoneal penicillin group (Group IPP). Epilepsy was induced by intracortical injections of penicillin G. Hemorheological studies had been carried out 3 h after the induction of epilepsy. Among the studied hemorheological parameters, only RBC deformability was found to be different in the E group compared to S group. Epileptic seizures led to an increase in RBC deformability in the E group. In conclusion, these results suggest that in addition to an increase in CBF, RBC deformability may also improve to better match brain metabolic demands during seizures.     

GABAergic neurons and GABA(A)-receptors in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most prevalent form of epilepsy, characterized by recurrent complex partial seizures and hippocampal sclerosis. The pathophysiology underlying this disorder remains unidentified. While a loss of benzodiazepine binding sites is a key diagnostic feature of MTLE, experimental studies have shown enhanced inhibitory transmission and increased expression of GABA(A)-receptors, suggesting that compensatory mechanisms are operative in epileptic hippocampus. In the present study, changes in the expression and cellular distribution of major GABA(A)-receptor subunits were investigated in the hippocampus of pilocarpine-treated rats during the phase of spontaneous recurrent seizures. A uniform decrease in GABA(A)-receptor subunit-immunoreactivity was observed in regions of extensive neuronal death (i.e. CA1, CA3, hilus). whereas a prominent increase occurred in the dentate gyrus (DG). Most strikingly, the increase was largest for the alpha3- and alpha5-subunits, which are expressed at very low levels in the DG of control rats, suggesting the formation of novel GABA(A)-receptor subtypes in epileptic tissue. Furthermore, an extensive loss of interneurons expressing the alpha1-subunit, representing presumptive basket cells, was seen in the DG. These changes were very similar to those reported in a novel mouse model of MTLE, based on the unilateral injection of kainic acid into the dorsal hippocampus (Bouilleret et al., 1999). This indicates that the regulation of GABA(A)-receptor expression is related to chronic recurrent seizures, and is not due to the extrahippocampal neuronal damage affecting pilocarpine-treated rats. These results allow causal relationships in the induction and maintenance of chronic recurrent seizures to be distinguished. The loss of a critical number of interneurons in the DG is a possible cause of seizure initiation, whereas the long-lasting upregulation of GABA(A)-receptors in granule cells represents a compensatory response to seizure activity.