The role of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus in epileptogenesis.
Flurothyl kindling initiates a time-dependent process that results in a facilitated propagation from the forebrain to the brainstem seizure system and in an increase in the complexity of behavioral seizure expression. We investigated the involvement of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) in mediating this facilitated propagation between these seizure systems. Bilateral ibotenic acid lesions of the VMH, but not the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (DMH), resulted in a disruption in the propagation of seizure activity from the forebrain to the brainstem. Moreover, VMH lesioned mice were able to express brainstem seizures following minimal corneal electroconvulsive shock (mECS). Together, our results indicate that the VMH is a critical substrate involved in propagating seizure activity between the forebrain and brainstem, but is not involved in the expression systems necessary for forebrain or brainstem seizure manifestations.
Ferland
R J
RJ
Program in Neuroscience, The Strong Epilepsy Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642, USA.
Applegate
C D
CD
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D003292:Convulsants; D003714:Denervation; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D005481:Flurothyl; D007051:Ibotenic Acid; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000503:physiopathology; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000503:physiopathology*
D003292:Convulsants; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D007051:Ibotenic Acid; D005481:Flurothyl