Absence seizures are considered the most pure form of generalized epilepsy characterized in the EEG by widespread bilaterally synchronous spike-wave discharges (SWDs) caused by thalamo-cortical oscillations. Latest Cortical Focus theory suggests a consistent cortical “focus” within the peri-oral region of the somatosensory cortex. METHODS: MRI data were correlated with gene-array analysis for cell signaling pathways involved in spindles generation and propagation in different cerebral areas. Four-months-old WAG/Rij rats were used as control (no SWDs). Nine-months-old rats (daily SWDs) were referred as experimental group. In order to exacerbate SWDs episodes, rats were treated with Vigabatrin. RESULTS: MRI data revealed a significant T2-values decrement in the lateral thalamus (LT), somatosensory (SS) and motor cortices (Mo) in 9-months-old WAG/Rij rats versus controls. Interesting enough, in the Mo cortex and in the LT, Vigabatrin treatment results in a moderate return to 4-months levels in experimental animals. DWI analysis revealed a significant effect in the Mo cortex due to treatment with Vigabatrin and in the LT, SS, Mo and Hippocampus related to time. Perfusion-MRI changes are still in progress. Microarray analysis suggests that genes belong to inflammatory and proliferative pathways can be modulated by Vigabatrin treatment, characterized by a partial return to 4-months levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data seems to indicate that, in parallel to structural and molecular modification observable in the thalamo-cortical circuitry, some focal cortical events can be detected. However, the study of the biological meaning of these variations is currently in progress.
Microarray analysis correlated to structural and functional MRI in WAG/Rij rats
PELLITTERI, Michele;BOSCHI, Federico;GALIE', Mirco;
2008-01-01
Abstract
Absence seizures are considered the most pure form of generalized epilepsy characterized in the EEG by widespread bilaterally synchronous spike-wave discharges (SWDs) caused by thalamo-cortical oscillations. Latest Cortical Focus theory suggests a consistent cortical “focus” within the peri-oral region of the somatosensory cortex. METHODS: MRI data were correlated with gene-array analysis for cell signaling pathways involved in spindles generation and propagation in different cerebral areas. Four-months-old WAG/Rij rats were used as control (no SWDs). Nine-months-old rats (daily SWDs) were referred as experimental group. In order to exacerbate SWDs episodes, rats were treated with Vigabatrin. RESULTS: MRI data revealed a significant T2-values decrement in the lateral thalamus (LT), somatosensory (SS) and motor cortices (Mo) in 9-months-old WAG/Rij rats versus controls. Interesting enough, in the Mo cortex and in the LT, Vigabatrin treatment results in a moderate return to 4-months levels in experimental animals. DWI analysis revealed a significant effect in the Mo cortex due to treatment with Vigabatrin and in the LT, SS, Mo and Hippocampus related to time. Perfusion-MRI changes are still in progress. Microarray analysis suggests that genes belong to inflammatory and proliferative pathways can be modulated by Vigabatrin treatment, characterized by a partial return to 4-months levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data seems to indicate that, in parallel to structural and molecular modification observable in the thalamo-cortical circuitry, some focal cortical events can be detected. However, the study of the biological meaning of these variations is currently in progress.
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