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Recording Synaptic Plasticity in Acute Hippocampal Slices Maintained in a Small-volume Recycling-, Perfusion-, and Submersion-type Chamber System
Published on: January 1, 2018
Long-lasting desynchronization in rat hippocampal slice induced by coordinated reset stimulation
P A Tass1, A N Silchenko, C Hauptmann
1Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine-Neuromodulation (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany.
Summary
Coordinated reset stimulation can reduce long-lasting epileptic activity in rat hippocampus by desynchronizing neuronal populations. Periodic stimulation, however, increases both synchronization and amplitude of seizures.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- Computational models demonstrate that synaptic plasticity enables stimulation protocols to modify network connectivity, leading to learning or unlearning of synchronization.
- These modifications involve shifting network states between attractors, resulting in persistent effects after stimulation cessation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-lasting effects of multisite electrical stimulation on epileptic activity in rat hippocampal slices.
- To compare the impact of desynchronizing coordinated reset (CR) stimulation versus periodic stimulation on neuronal synchronization and epileptiform activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multisite electrical stimulation in a rat hippocampal slice model of epilepsy induced by magnesium withdrawal.
- Applied desynchronizing coordinated reset stimulation and periodic stimulation protocols.
- Measured long-lasting changes in neuronal population synchronization and the amplitude of epileptiform activity.
Main Results:
- Desynchronizing coordinated reset stimulation resulted in prolonged desynchronization of hippocampal neuronal populations.
- This CR stimulation led to a significant decrease in the amplitude of epileptiform activity.
- Conversely, periodic stimulation induced a persistent increase in both synchronization and the amplitude of epileptiform activity.
Conclusions:
- Desynchronizing coordinated reset stimulation offers a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing long-lasting epileptic activity by disrupting synchronized neuronal firing.
- Periodic stimulation exacerbates epilepsy by increasing neuronal synchronization and seizure amplitude, highlighting the importance of stimulation protocol selection.
