Effect of deep brain stimulation on memory and cellular-molecular changes of hippocampus in male rats following seizure induction

Aims: Low-frequency stimulation (LFS) as a deep brain stimulation pattern is a new therapeutics for drug-resistive epilepsies. However, its effects have not been determined on brain tissue. In this study, effects of LFS on short-term memory, steriologic changes and molecular indices of inflammation and apoptosis were investigated in convulsive rats.Materials and Methods: A tripolar electrode was inserted into the hippocampal CA1 region and a monopolar electrode was connected to skull. Animals were divided into two groups. In kindled group, animals were kindled by injection of pentylenetetrazole (i.p.) and in control group animals received the solvent. LFS was applied into the CA1 area. One week later, some animals were tested by Y-maze for working memory and in other animals hippocampal samples were preparedfor western bloting and qRT-PCR experiments.Results: LFS reduced the inflammatory indices, caspase-3 and vasoepithelial growth factor expression and increased the number of neurons and hippocampal volume in kindled animals one week after its application. In addition, LFS decreased the seizure-induced mempory impairment.Conclusion: Applying LFS in kindled animals reduced the decrement of hippocampal neurons and volume concurrent with decreasing the inflammatory agents and apoptosis. These changes are likely contribute to the LFS therapeutics and protective mechanisms.

کلیدواژه ها:

Seizure ، Low-frequency stimulation ، Apoptosis ، Gliosis ، Steriology