Effects of electrical stimulation of the lateral cerebellar nucleus on PTZ-kindled seizures

Abstract

Background

In recent years, the cerebellum and its nuclei have become an essential target for understanding and suppressing the mechanisms of seizures. This study aimed to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) applied to the Lateral Cerebellar Nucleus (LCN) in rats at the early and fully developed pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) kindled seizures.

Methods

The experimental groups were represented by the male Wistar rats kindled with PTZ (35.0 mg/kg, i.p.) to myoclonus (9–11 PTZ injections) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (21 PTZ injections). Unilateral ES (100 Hz) was delivered daily for five days after the last kindled PTZ administration, with PTZ seizure testing after ES. Seizures were videotaped, and the severity score was determined in a blinded manner.

Results

ES of LCN performed at the early stage of kindling facilitated the appearance of myoclonus, and increased seizure severity by 30.2 % points compared to the control group (H = 6.94; df = 2; p = 0.037) with the spikes frequency generation increased during the poststimulation period (H = 27.34; df = 5; p < 0.001). In fully developed kindling, ES prevented generalized seizure and reduced seizure severity by 27.5 % (H = 9.385; df = 2; p = 0.009), while myoclonuses were present with spikes generation in brain structures.

Conclusion

The data obtained showed that repeated ES of LCN at the early stage promoted myoclonic seizures, while in fully PTZ-kindled rats, it suppressed generalized seizure fits, which were substituted with myoclonus.