title: Reduced dendritic arborization and hyperexcitability of pyramidal neurons in a Scn1b-based model of Dravet syndrome.
abstract: Epileptic encephalopathies, including Dravet syndrome, are severe treatment-resistant epilepsies with developmental regression. We examined a mouse model based on a human β1 sodium channel subunit (Scn1b) mutation. Homozygous mutant mice shared phenotypic features and pharmaco-sensitivity with Dravet syndrome. Patch-clamp analysis showed that mutant subicular and layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons had increased action potential firing rates, presumably as a consequence of their increased input resistance. These changes were not seen in L5 or CA1 pyramidal neurons. This raised the concept of a regional seizure mechanism that was supported by data showing increased spontaneous synaptic activity in the subiculum but not CA1. Importantly, no changes in firing or synaptic properties of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic interneurons from mutant mice were observed, which is in contrast with Scn1a-based models of Dravet syndrome. Morphological analysis of subicular pyramidal neurons revealed reduced dendritic arborization. The antiepileptic drug retigabine, a K+ channel opener that reduces input resistance, dampened action potential firing and protected mutant mice from thermal seizures. These results suggest a novel mechanism of disease genesis in genetic epilepsy and demonstrate an effective mechanism-based treatment of the disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leaw
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Kay L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wimmer
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Christiaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Elisa L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hill-Yardin
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute of Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany3 Neurological Clinic and Institute of Applied Physiology, University of Ulm, D-89081 Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lerche
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia4 Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg West, Melbourne, 3081, Australia5 Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Ingrid E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Scheffer
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg West, Melbourne, 3081, Australia.
authors.forename: Samuel F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Berkovic
authors.affiliation: 1 Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia6 Centre for Neural Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, 3010, Australia7 Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience. The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, 3010, Australia spetrou@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrou
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D062547:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel beta-1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C524974:Scn1b protein, mouse; D062547:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel beta-1 Subunit
keywords: Dravet syndrome; action potentials; beta1 subunit; epileptic encephalopathy; sodium channel