Effects Of Different Frequencies Of Electrical Stimulations Of Anterior Thalamic Nucleus On Penicillin-induced Seizures In Rats

ObjectiveDirect stimulation of epileptic foci,such as anterior thalamic nuclei is a new research direction,but this treatment for epilepsy is still in preliminary exploration,lack of systematic research.In this study,the effects of different frequencies of electrical stimulations in acute penicillin-induced epileptic rats were explored,providing the basis for new ways of treatment for epilepsy.MethodsThe 45 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:the control group,the low-frequency and high-frequency group.Coaxial electrodes were implanted into the bilateral anterior thalamic nuclei with the stereotactic method.After establishment of acute epilepsy rats by injection of penicillin intraperitoneally,EEG of 1h stimulation and behavioral classification of seizures were recorded.Comparison of frequency of sharp spikes and behavioral classification of seizures were made.ResultsThere were no rats died during the process of animal model establishment and EEG recording,all rats could move freely and get water after anesthesia,all rats displayed seizures,a more typical performance is:abortion occurs during activity,ears or beard appeared rhythmic jitter,or body convulsions,with more severe behaviors of standing-falling or running and jumping.During the interictal period,EEG were mainly comprised of ? and ? waves with occasional spikes or sharp waves,displaying a high-low-high EEG amplitude.After 1Hz and 100Hz electrical stimulation of the anterior thalamic nuclei,it is found that:compared with the control group,the behavior classification of seizures was significantly lower(P<0.01),but the comparison between the stimulation groups has no statistical difference.So both the low frequency and high frequency electrical stimulation could inhibit seizures in rats.In the control group EEG showed continuous epileptic waveforms of a high-amplitude spike-sharp wave,spike-sharp slow-wave,multi-spike wave.After stimulation epileptic waveform frequency was decreased and counts of sharp spikes also reduced significantly after stimulus onset.In 10 days of different frequencies of bilateral anterior thalamic nuclei electrical stimulation it was observed that within both of two electrical stimulation groups,generalized seizures was significantly reduced compared with the control group,seizure duration was significantly shortened,after discharge duration was significantly lessened,after discharge threshold was significantly increased,the generalized seizure threshold were markedly higher(p<0.01),but no statistically significant difference was found between the treatment group.Conclusion:The establishment of seizures models by intra-peritoneal and-cortical injection of penicillin were reliable and stable.In order to inhibit seizures,deep brain stimulation of anterior thalamic nucleus showed a significant antiepileptic effect,it is an ideal target.The low-frequency and high-frequency electrical stimulation of bilateral thalamic nuclei can suppress penicillin-induced generalized tonic-clonic seizures.But no significant difference was found between the two groups.