Antiepileptic drugs combined with high-frequency electrical stimulation in the ventral hippocampus modify pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in rats

Authors: Cuellar-Herrera, Manola; Peña, Fernando; Alcantara-Gonzalez, David; Neri-Bazan, Leticia; Rocha, Luisa

Source: Epilepsia, Volume 51, Number 3, March 2010 , pp. 432-437(6)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary Purpose: 

To evaluate the effects of high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) in both ventral hippocampi, alone and combined with a subeffective dose of antiepileptic drugs, during the status epilepticus (SE) induced by lithium-pilocarpine (LP). Methods: 

Male Wistar rats, stereotactically implanted in both ventral hippocampi, were injected with pilocarpine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) 24 h after lithium (3 mEq/kg) administration. One minute following pilocarpine injection, HFS (pulses of 60 μs width at 130 Hz at subthreshold intensities and applied during 3 h) was applied alone or combined with subeffective doses of antiepileptic drugs. Results: 

HFS alone reduced the incidence of severe generalized seizures. This effect was not evident when HFS was combined with phenytoin (33.3 mg/kg, i.p.). HFS combined with diazepam (0.41 mg/kg, i.p.) or phenobarbital (10 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the incidence of severe generalized seizures and mortality rate, and augmented the latency to first forelimb clonus, generalized seizure, and status epilepticus (SE). When combined with gabapentin (46 mg/kg, i.p.), HFS reduced the incidence of severe generalized seizures, enhanced latency to SE, and decreased mortality rate. Discussion: 

Subeffective doses of antiepileptic drugs that increase the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission may represent a therapeutic tool to augment the HFS-induced anticonvulsant effects.

Keywords: High-frequency electrical stimulation; Ventral hippocampus; Lithium-pilocarpine; Status epilepticus; Antiepileptic drugs

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02315.x

Publication date: 2010-03-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Neurology & Psychiatry
• By this author: Cuellar-Herrera, Manola ;  Peña, Fernando ;  Alcantara-Gonzalez, David ;  Neri-Bazan, Leticia ;  Rocha, Luisa

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers