Evidence for a role of the parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus in the control of epileptic seizures by the superior colliculus.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the nucleus parafascicularis (Pf) of the thalamus could be a relay of the control of epileptic seizures by the superior colliculus (SC). The Pf is one of the main ascending projections of the SC, the disinhibition of which has been shown to suppress seizures in different animal models and has been proposed as the main relay of the nigral control of epilepsy.

Methods: Rats with genetic absence seizures (generalized absence epilepsy rat from Strasbourg or GAERS) were used in this study.