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Updated: Apr 4, 2026
Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus
Published on: March 8, 2015
Deep brain stimulation induces antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects in epileptic rats
Beatriz O Amorim1, Luciene Covolan2, Elenn Ferreira3
1Disciplina de Neurofisiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862 5 andar, 04023-062, São Paulo, Brazil. beatriz.oamorim@gmail.com.
Background:
Status epilepticus (SE) is a severe condition that may lead to hippocampal cell loss and epileptogenesis. Some of the mechanisms associated with SE-induced cell death are excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis.
Objective:
The objective of the present study is to test the hypothesis that DBS has anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects when applied during SE.
Methods:
Rats undergoing pilocarpine-induced SE were treated with anterior thalamic nucleus (AN) deep brain stimulation (DBS). Inflammatory changes and caspase 3 activity were measured within 1 week of treatment.
Results:
In pilocarpine-treated rats, DBS countered the significant increase in hippocampal caspase 3 activity and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels that follows SE but had no effect on tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα).
Conclusions:
DBS has anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects when given to animals undergoing status.
