Miniature EEG Telemetry Device for Translational Epilepsy Research

描述（由申请人提供）：长期连续记录神经系统疾病动物模型的电事件是旨在开发衰弱性疾病（如癫痫）新疗法的转化研究的关键组成部分。脑电图（EEG）的记录可以从成年大鼠中一次获得数周或数月，“有线”）或遥测（即，“无线”）记录系统;然而，这两种系统都有问题。拟议的研究将进一步开发和验证微型遥测系统（即，EpiTel设备）将被优化以记录连续的（即，几乎不间断的）电图活动，如顽固性癫痫。EpiTel设备的基本原理是将一个小型独立遥测单元固定在啮齿动物的头部，该单元具有易于更换和廉价的电池。如果该装置损坏，可随时更换。EpiTel设备的临时专利已经提交。拟议的实验将使用获得性癫痫的动物模型，并将旨在获得稳定的长期连续记录成年大鼠和小鼠惊厥发作。长期目标是让研究人员能够在转化研究中使用EpiTel设备，为不同类型的获得性癫痫动物模型开发新的疗法。我们有初步的“原理验证”数据，但目标是在癫痫大鼠和小鼠模型中测试新开发的EpiTel设备。第一阶段的目标是表明获得长期连续记录是可行的（即，几个月一次）。最终，EpiTel设备也可以适用于未成年大鼠，以便研究小儿癫痫。这些实验将允许更好地验证癫痫和其他神经系统疾病的动物模型。获得长期连续记录的能力应有助于开发新的治疗方法来抑制癫痫发作，并可能阻止脑损伤后慢性癫痫的发展。公共卫生相关性：这项拨款提案旨在开发和验证一种新的大鼠和小鼠微型遥测系统，以促进癫痫动物模型的转化研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Long-term continuous recording of electrical events from animal models of neurological disease is a critical component of translational research aimed at developing new therapies for debilitating disorders, such as epilepsy. Recordings of the electroencephalogram (EEG) can be obtained for weeks or months at a time from adult rats with either tethered (i.e., "wired") or telemetric (i.e., "wireless") recording systems; however, both of these systems have problems. The proposed studies will further develop and validate a miniature telemetry system (i.e., the EpiTel device) that will be optimized to record continuous (i.e., virtually uninterrupted) electrographic activity from rodent models of neurological disorders, such as intractable epilepsy. The fundamental principle of the EpiTel device is that a small self-contained telemetry unit with easily replaceable and inexpensive batteries is secured to the rodent's head. If this unit is damaged, it can be readily replaced. A provisional patent for the EpiTel device has been submitted. The proposed experiments will use animal models of acquired epilepsy, and will aim to obtain stable long-term continuous recordings from adult rats and mice with convulsive seizures. The long-term goal is for researchers to be able to use the EpiTel device in translational research to develop new therapies for different types of animal models of acquired epilepsy. We have preliminary "proof-of-principle" data, but aim to test the newly-developed EpiTel device in rat and mouse models of epilepsy. The goal in Phase I is to show that it is feasible to obtain long-term continuous recordings (i.e., for many months at a time). Ultimately, the EpiTel device could also be adapted to immature rats in order to allow studies of pediatric epilepsy. These experiments will allow better validation of animal models of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The ability to obtain long-term continuous recordings should facilitate the development of new therapies to suppress epileptic seizures and potentially to block the development of chronic epilepsy after brain injury. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This grant proposal aims to develop and validate a new miniature telemetry system for rats and mice that should facilitate translational research on animal models of epilepsy.