Neuroprotective Effect of Electric Conduction Treatment on Hippocampus Cell Apoptosis in KA Induced Acute Temporal Lobe Epileptic Rats

- Electronic conduction can decreased seizure frequency significantly in rats with KA-induced acute temporal lobe epilepsy.
- Significantly fewer apoptotic cells were detected in rats with conduction using flow cytometry and TUNEL staining.
- KA-induced up-regulation of hippocampal caspase-3 mRNA expression was reduced at 24 hours after conduction treatment.

BackgroundElectronic conduction, a new treatment approach for epilepsy, has been confirmed to reduce epileptiform discharge on EEG and convulsive behaviors, particularly epileptic discharge propagation and serious behavioral seizures, in rats with kainic acid (KA)-induced acute temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).ObjectiveHippocampal cell apoptosis was examined to confirm the neuroprotective effect of electronic conduction therapy in rats with KA-induced acute TLE.MethodsRats were divided into four groups: control group (right CA3 injection of saline), KA group (right CA3 injection of KA), sham conduction group (KA rats with sham conduction), and conduction group (KA rats with electric conduction). Apoptotic cells were evaluated by flow cytometry, TUNEL staining, and mRNA expression levels of caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and glial fibrillary acidic protein measured by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR).ResultsThe frequency of convulsive behaviors in the conduction group decreased significantly compared with the KA group and the sham conduction group. Significantly fewer apoptotic cells were detected in rats with conduction based on flow cytometry and TUNEL staining results. The qRT-PCR results indicated that KA-induced up-regulation of hippocampal caspase-3 mRNA expression was reduced 24 hours after KA injection in rats that received conduction treatment.ConclusionElectronic conduction treatment can reduce seizure frequency and hippocampal cell apoptosis in rats with KA-induced acute TLE.