Effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation parameters on its anticonvulsant action during rapid perforant path kindling in rat

SummaryLow frequency stimulation (LFS) may be considered as a new potential therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy. However, the relation between LFS parameters and its anticonvulsant effects is not completely determined. In this study, the effect of some LFS parameters on its anticonvulsant action was investigated in rats. In all animals, stimulating and recording electrodes were implanted into the perforant path and dentate gyrus, respectively. In one group of animals, kindling stimulations were applied until rats achieved a fully kindled state. In other groups, different patterns of LFS were applied at the end of kindling stimulations during twenty consecutive days. In the first experiment the effect of LFS pulse numbers was investigated on its anticonvulsant action. Animals were divided randomly into three groups and 1, 4, and 8 packages of LFS (each pack contains 200 pulses, 0.1 ms pulse duration at 1 Hz) were applied five minutes after termination of kindling stimulations. Obtained results showed that 4 packages of LFS had the strongest anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, this pattern (4 packages) was used in the next experiment. In the second experiment, 4 packages of LFS were applied at intervals of 30 s and 30 min after termination of kindling stimulations. The strongest anticonvulsant effect was observed in the group received LFS at the interval of 30 s. Therefore, this pattern was selected for the third experiment. In the third experiment the effect of LFS at frequencies of 0.25 Hz and 5 Hz was investigated. The group of animals which received LFS at the frequency of 0.25 Hz showed somehow stronger anticonvulsant effect. The results indicate that different parameters of LFS have important role in induction of LFS anticonvulsant effects. Regarding this view, it seems that the slower LFS frequency and the shorter interval between LFS and kindling stimulations, the stronger anticonvulsant effect will be observed. But there is no direct relation between number of pulses and the magnitude of anticonvulsant effect of LFS.