Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Biomicrotechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, Faculty of Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Biomicrotechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, Faculty of Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Piret Kleis
Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
Catarina Orcinha
Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Systemic and Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute for Physiology I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Biomicrotechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, Faculty of Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Philipp Janz
Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany; Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most common form of focal, pharmacoresistant epilepsy in adults and is often associated with hippocampal sclerosis. Here, we established the efficacy of optogenetic and electrical low-frequency stimulation (LFS) in interfering with seizure generation in a mouse model of MTLE. Specifically, we applied LFS in the sclerotic hippocampus to study the effects on spontaneous subclinical and evoked generalized seizures. We found that stimulation at 1 Hz for 1 hr resulted in an almost complete suppression of spontaneous seizures in both hippocampi. This seizure-suppressive action during daily stimulation remained stable over several weeks. Furthermore, LFS for 30 min before a pro-convulsive stimulus successfully prevented seizure generalization. Finally, acute slice experiments revealed a reduced efficacy of perforant path transmission onto granule cells upon LFS. Taken together, our results suggest that hippocampal LFS constitutes a promising approach for seizure control in MTLE.
