Research for the hippocampal-entorhinal neuronal connection in temporal lobe epilepsy

纵观神经科学的历史，癫痫学家一直在努力掌握曾经被认为是“神圣疾病”的复杂过程。为此，已经开发了不同的动物模型和技术，希望更好地了解癫痫的假定机制，从而最终治愈癫痫。人类慢性颞叶癫痫的特征是海马或阿蒙角硬化，包括神经元细胞丢失和神经胶质瘤。人类颞叶癫痫的研究需要使用具有相似行为和组织学特征的癫痫发作动物模型。到目前为止，已经采用了几种动物模型，并提供了丰富的数据。我们的研究是基于海马体-内鼻联合切片制备的确认，这代表了一种合适的模型，可以理解癫痫样活动在边缘系统内的起源和传播方式。此外，我们还研究了惊厥药物和K通道阻滞剂4-amynopyridine （4AP）在体外海马体-内嗅联合片的子区中引发其自发同步活性的机制。4-AP是一种有效的惊厥药物，其癫痫发生特性已在体内和体外进行了研究。微摩尔浓度的4AP通过阻断一些K^+通道，诱导神经递质从兴奋和抑制途径释放的强大和持续增强。采用4AP灌注于成年鼠脑海马-内嗅联合切片，探讨边缘系统电生理特性。我们的研究证实，海马体-内鼻联合切片制备为理解癫痫样活动的起源和传播方式以及gaba介导的边缘系统电位提供了一个合适的模型。

Throughout the history of neuroscience, epileptologists have striven to grasp the intricate processes involved in the once believed "Sacred Diseas". To this end, different animal models and techniques have been developed, with the hope that a better understanding of the putative mechanisms involved in epilepsy may lead to an eventual cure.Chronic temporal lobe epilepsy in human is characterized by hippocampal, or Ammon's horn, sclerosis which consists of neuronal cell loss and gliosis. The investigation for human temporal epilepsy requires the use of animal models of seizures which have the similar behavioral and histological features. Thus far, several animal models are employed and providing abundant data.Our study is based on the confirmation of the combined hippocampal-entorhinal slice preparation representing a suitable model for understanding the modalities of origin and propagation of epileptiform activity within the limbic system. Furthermore, we also study a mechanism through which the convulsant drug and K channel blocker, 4-amynopyridine (4AP), elicits its spontaneous, synchronous activity in the subfields of the in vitro the combined hippocampal-entorhinal slice. 4-AP is a potent convulsant drug, whose epileptogenetic properties have been investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Micromolar concentration of 4AP induced a powerful and persistent enhancement of neurotransmitter release from excitatory and inhibitory pathways through the blockade of some K^+ channels. We employed 4AP to be perfused on the combined hippocampal-entorhinal slices obtained from adult rodent brain for exploring the electrophysiological properties underlying limbic system.Our study confirms that the combined hippocampal-entorhinal slice preparation represents a suitable model for understanding the modalities of origin and propagation of epileptiform activity as well as GABA-mediated potential within the limbic system.