Optogenetic and potassium channel gene therapy in a rodent model of focal neocortical epilepsy.

ABSTRACT: Neocortical epilepsy is frequently drug-resistant. Surgery to remove the epileptogenic zone is only feasible in a minority of cases, leaving many patients without an effective treatment. We report the potential efficacy of gene therapy in focal neocortical epilepsy using a rodent model in which epilepsy is induced by tetanus toxin injection in the motor cortex. By applying several complementary methods that use continuous wireless electroencephalographic monitoring to quantify epileptic activity, we observed increases in high frequency activity and in the occurrence of epileptiform events. Pyramidal neurons in the epileptic focus showed enhanced intrinsic excitability consistent with seizure generation. Optogenetic inhibition of a subset of principal neurons transduced with halorhodopsin t

SUBMITTER: Wykes RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3605784 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature