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Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays
Published on: May 15, 2018
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Study on the mechanisms of seizure-like events suppression effect by electrical stimulation using a microelectrode
Sora Ahn1, Sumin Jo, Sang Beom Jun
1aDepartment of Electronic and Electrical Engineering bDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
Neuroreport
|April 27, 2017
Summary
Electrical stimulation effectively suppresses seizure-like events (SLEs) in brain slices, particularly near the stimulation site. This supports the neuronal depolarization blockade mechanism involving potassium ion accumulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- Seizure-like events (SLEs) are network hyperexcitability phenomena.
- Electrical stimulation is a potential therapeutic strategy for epilepsy.
- Understanding the mechanisms of seizure suppression is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of seizure-like event suppression by electrical stimulation.
- To compare the effects of electrical stimulation in different chemical conditions inducing SLEs.
- To validate the neuronal depolarization blockade mechanism.
Main Methods:
- In-vitro electrophysiology using entorhinal cortex-hippocampal slices.
- Induction of SLEs using bicuculline and 4-aminopyridine.
- Microelectrode array recordings to monitor network activity.
- Granger causality analysis to identify SLEs focus.
- Computer simulations of neuronal network models.
Main Results:
- Electrical stimulation markedly suppressed SLEs induced by bicuculline.
- Suppression was less consistent for SLEs induced by 4-aminopyridine (∼20% suppressed).
- Suppression effects were most pronounced in regions surrounding the stimulation site for both drug applications.
- Computer simulations corroborated the findings.
Conclusions:
- Electrical stimulation can suppress seizure-like events through mechanisms potentially involving neuronal depolarization blockade.
- Extracellular potassium accumulation is a likely contributor to seizure suppression via electrical stimulation.
- The efficacy of electrical stimulation may vary depending on the underlying cause of the seizure activity.
