title: Alleviation of ferric chloride-induced seizures and retarded behaviour in epileptic rats by cortical electrical stimulation treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of low-frequency cortical electrical stimulation (CES) on seizures and behaviour in a rat model of epilepsy induced by ferric chloride (FeCl3).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n=8 per group): normal healthy rats; saline-treated control rats; FeCl3-induced epileptic rats; CES-treated FeCl3-induced epileptic rats. Behavioural tests, analysis of the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein in brain tissue, and ultrastructural studies using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CES significantly decreased the number and grade of seizures, and improved rat behaviour, compared with untreated epileptic rats. CES reduced levels of BDNF protein in the forebrain and increased levels of BDNF protein in the hippocampus compared with untreated epileptic rats. TEM showed less damage and ultrastructural changes in the neurons of CES-treated epileptic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CES inhibited seizures in FeCl3-induced epileptic rats and improved their behaviour. These effects might be mediated by altering BDNF protein levels in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, ShanXi, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002712:Chlorides; D018450:Disease Progression; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007837:Latency Period, Psychological; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002712:Chlorides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C024555:ferric chloride