MR spectroscopic imaging to detect the development of latent epilepsy

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) has been developed and used by many groups to localize the regions of injury and seizure onset in human epilepsy. Intrinsic to its success is the common finding of metabolic dysfunction even in the absence of tissue volume loss, e.g., as has been shown in MRI-negative cases of temporal lobe epilepsy. Although this successful detection is useful for subsequent targeted and surgical management of epilepsy, it has been recognized that the treatment of epilepsy could be substantively changed and improved if early detection were feasible and accurate. From both human and animal model experience, the pathophysiology of acquired epilepsy is initiated by a cerebral insult (e.g., the fairly common event of fever-induced or febrile seizures, head trauma or infection), followed by a latent period that precedes the onset of overt spontaneous recurrent seizures ("SRS"), i.e., epilepsy. If early detection were available, there are several strong potential therapeutics that might decrease the likelihood of developing clinical epilepsy (distinct from therapy that simply decreases the likelihood of seizures), e.g., erythropoietin, anti-inflammatory compounds, anti- oxidants. In this study we examine whether MRSI can detect incipient epilepsy during this latent period. We do this using the rat perforant path stimulation (PPS) model, which replicates many of the defining features of acquired human medial temporal lobe epilepsy. Importantly this model does not show widespread brain injury commonly seen in chemoconvulsant models. Our preliminary brain extract data from this 24hour PPS model show that by 4days after initial insult, substantial changes in myo-inositol, glutamine, GABA and N-acetyl aspartate are seen. In this project, we will test the ability of in vivo MRSI to detect 4 das after the stimulation injury the level of injury and the development of incipient epilepsy using a severe and mild version of the PPS model. This will be done in a blinded fashion. As all animals will also be video and EEG monitored, we will also be able to test the ability of the MRSI to identify those animals who go on to develop overt recurrent seizures.