Miniature EEG Telemetry Device for Translational Epilepsy Research

描述（由申请人提供）：神经系统疾病动物模型的长期连续电事件记录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。通过系留（即“有线”）或遥测（即“无线”）记录系统，可以一次从成年大鼠获得数周或数月的脑电图记录；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），该系统将被优化以记录神经系统疾病（如顽固性癫痫）啮齿动物模型的连续（即几乎不间断）电图活动。EpiTel设备的基本原理是将一个小型的独立遥测单元与易于更换和廉价的电池固定在啮齿动物的头上。如果这个装置损坏了，可以随时更换。已经提交了一项临时专利。拟议的实验将使用获得性癫痫的动物模型，并将致力于从惊厥发作的成年大鼠和小鼠中获得稳定的长期连续记录。研究人员的长期目标是能够在转化研究中使用EpiTel设备来开发针对不同类型的获得性癫痫动物模型的新疗法。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。第一阶段的目标是证明获得长期连续记录（即，一次可以记录好几个月）是可行的。最终，EpiTel装置也可以适用于未成熟的大鼠，以便进行儿童癫痫的研究。这些实验将使癫痫和其他神经系统疾病的动物模型得到更好的验证。获得长期连续记录的能力将促进新疗法的发展，以抑制癫痫发作，并有可能阻止脑损伤后慢性癫痫的发展。公共卫生相关性：该拨款提案旨在开发和验证一种用于大鼠和小鼠的新型微型遥测系统，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.