Seizure Susceptibility and Sleep Disturbance as Biomarkers of Epileptogenesis after Experimental TBI.

Objectives: We investigated whether seizure susceptibility increases over weeks−months after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI), and whether seizure susceptibility in rats predicts the development of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) or epileptiform activity. We further investigated whether rats develop chronic sleep disturbance after TBI, and whether sleep disturbance parameters—alone or in combination with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) test parameters—could serve as novel biomarkers for the development of post-traumatic epileptogenesis. Methods: TBI was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with lateral fluid-percussion injury.

Ultrasonic vocalizations - Novel seizure-related manifestation in rats.

Objective: Seizures of frontal or temporal lobe origin can associate with vocalizations in humans. Our objective was to assess whether rats emit specific seizure-related patterns of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during seizures and epileptiform activity.

Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a single administration of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 50 mg/kg, i.

Activation of D1/D5 receptors ameliorates decreased intrinsic excitability of hippocampal neurons induced by neonatal blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors.

Background And Purpose: Dysregulation of dopaminergic transmission combined with transient hypofunction of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) is a key mechanism that may underlie cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Experimental Approach: Therefore, we aimed to identify electrophysiologic alterations in animals neonatally treated with the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, or with saline solution.

Key Results: Patch-clamp whole-cell recordings from MK-801-treated animals revealed altered passive and active electrophysiologic properties compared with CA1 pyramidal cells from saline-treated animals, including up-regulation of the K inward-rectifier conductance and fast-inactivating and slow/non-inactivating K currents.

Biomarkers for posttraumatic epilepsy.

A biomarker is a characteristic that can be objectively measured as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or responses to an exposure or intervention, including therapeutic interventions. Biomarker modalities include molecular, histologic, radiographic, or physiologic characteristics. To improve the understanding and use of biomarker terminology in biomedical research, clinical practice, and medical product development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-National Institutes of Health (NIH) Joint Leadership Council developed the BEST Resource (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools).

Acute Downregulation of Novel Hypothalamic Protein Sushi Repeat-Containing Protein X-Linked 2 after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes damage to the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis, leading to endocrine dysregulation in up to 40% of TBI patients. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify non-invasive biomarkers for TBI-associated hypothalamo-hypophyseal pathology. Sushi repeat-containing protein X-linked 2 (SRPX2) is a novel hypothalamic protein expressed in both rat and human brain.

Propylparaben suppresses epileptiform activity in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells in vitro.

Epilepsy is a highly prevalent neurological disorder. Additionally, a percentage of patients do not respond to conventional antiepileptic drugs. Therefore, drugs for epilepsy control are still being developed.

Propylparaben reduces the excitability of hippocampal neurons by blocking sodium channels.

Propylparaben (PPB) is an antimicrobial preservative widely used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutics. Virtual screening methodologies predicted anticonvulsant activity of PPB that was confirmed in vivo. Thus, we explored the effects of PPB on the excitability of hippocampal neurons by using standard patch clamp techniques.