Seizure-Suppressant and Neuroprotective Effects of Encapsulated BDNF-Producing Cells in a Rat Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

ABSTRACT: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may represent a therapeutic for chronic epilepsy, but evaluating its potential is complicated by difficulties in its delivery to the brain. Here, we describe the effects on epileptic seizures of encapsulated cell biodelivery (ECB) devices filled with genetically modified human cells engineered to release BDNF. These devices, implanted into the hippocampus of pilocarpine-treated rats, highly decreased the frequency of spontaneous seizures by more than 80%. These benefits were associated with improved cognitive performance, as epileptic rats treated with BDNF performed significantly better on a novel object recognition test. Importantly, long-term BDNF delivery did not alter normal behaviors such as general activity or sleep/wake patterns. Detailed im

SUBMITTER: Falcicchia C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5948312 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature