title: Potential Protective Effects of Chronic Anterior Thalamic Nucleus Stimulation on Hippocampal Neurons in Epileptic Monkeys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) is effective in seizure reduction, but the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of ANT stimulation are unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the beneficial effects of ANT stimulation on hippocampal neurons of epileptic monkeys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic ANT stimulation was applied to kainic acid-induced epileptic monkeys. Behavioral seizures were continuously monitored. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot assays were performed to assess the hippocampal injury and the effects of ANT stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of seizures was 42.8% lower in the stimulation group compared with the sham-stimulation group. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot analyses indicated that neuronal loss and apoptosis were less severe and that neurofilament synthesis was enhanced in the stimulation monkeys compared with the sham-stimulation group. These data showed that the hippocampal injury was less severe in monkeys in the stimulation group than in those in the sham-stimulation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that chronic ANT stimulation may exert protective effects on hippocampal neurons and boost the regeneration of neuronal fibers. These effects may be closely related to the mechanisms of ANT stimulation in epilepsy treatment.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: An-Chao
authors: AC
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurostimulation, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: Lu-Ming
authors: LM
authors: Li
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital of Hainan Province, Haikou 570100, China.
authors: Jun-Ju
authors: JJ
authors: Li
authors: Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: Da-Wei
authors: DW
authors: Meng
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: Guan-Yu
authors: GY
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors: Ying-Chuan
authors: YC
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pathology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100000, China.
authors: De-Hong
authors: DH
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurostimulation, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address: zjguo73@126.com.
authors: Jian-Guo
authors: JG
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020643:Anterior Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007608:Kainic Acid
keywords: Anterior nucleus of the thalamus; Deep brain stimulation; Epilepsy; Neuronal injury; Rhesus monkey