Is Mossy Fiber Sprouting a Potential Therapeutic Target for Epilepsy?

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Clarissa F Cavarsan1, Jackeline Malheiros1, Clement Hamani1,2

  • 1Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Frontiers in Neurology
|December 18, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy involves hippocampal sclerosis and abnormal mossy fiber sprouting. This review explores how mossy fiber sprouting contributes to seizures and treatment responses in temporal lobe epilepsy models.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Epileptology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) with hippocampal sclerosis is a common adult epilepsy.
  • It features focal seizures originating in the hippocampus, potentially generalizing.
  • Key pathology includes cell loss and aberrant mossy fiber sprouting (MFS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of MFS in MTLE pathogenesis.
  • To examine MFS's contribution to hippocampal excitability and seizure generation.
  • To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting MFS in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) models.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on hippocampal sclerosis and MFS.
  • Analysis of studies investigating MFS in TLE models.
  • Examination of treatment responses related to MFS and seizures.

Main Results:

  • MFS is a significant pathological feature in hippocampal sclerosis.
  • MFS is implicated in enhancing hippocampal excitability and promoting seizure activity.
  • Alternative treatments show varied efficacy in reducing MFS and spontaneous recurrent seizures.

Conclusions:

  • Mossy fiber sprouting plays a critical role in the generation and maintenance of seizures in MTLE.
  • Targeting MFS represents a potential therapeutic avenue for TLE.
  • Further research is needed to optimize treatments that modulate MFS for seizure control.
Keywords:
deep brain stimulationepileptogenesishippocampusmossy fibers sproutingtemporal lobe epilepsy

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