The immunosuppressant cyclosporin A inhibits recurrent seizures in an experimental model of temporal lobe epilepsy

The immunosuppressant, cyclosporin A (CsA), is neuroprotective following brain injury. Previous studies suggest that CsA treatment ameliorates seizure severity during status epilepticus (SE) or cell death following SE. The antiepileptic effects of CsA on recurrent seizures, however, have not been investigated. In the present study, the effects of CsA on spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs) in a kainate (KA)-induced mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) were examined. Moreover, the effects of CsA on epileptiform activity in a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced in vitro seizure model were investigated. A mesial TLE mouse model was generated with a unilateral intrahippocampal injection of KA. SRSs were determined in the ipsilateral hippocampal CA1 region with a long-term video-EEG. CsA was systemically administrated to the epileptic mice exhibiting a stable occurrence of SRSs. A 1-mg/kg dose of CsA did not have any effect on SRSs in the epileptic mice. However, a 5-mg/kg dose of CsA significantly reduced the number of SRSs and decreased the severity of the seizures in the epileptic mice. Additionally, CsA treatment inhibited spontaneous burst discharges in 4-AP-treated hippocampal slices. The results of the present study demonstrate that CsA inhibits recurrent seizures in a mouse model of mesial TLE and suggest that CsA may afford both neuroprotection against SE and antiepileptic effects during the chronic period of epilepsy.

► The effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on recurrent seizures were investigated.
► CsA treatment inhibited recurrent seizures in a kainite (KA)-induced model of TLE.
► CsA treatment decreased recurrent seizure severity in a KA-induced TLE model.
► CsA blocked burst discharges elicited by 4-aminopyridine in hippocampal slices.