title: Magnetic facial nerve stimulation in animal models of active seizure.
abstract: As part of our efforts to develop a non-invasive facial nerve stimulator as an emergency treatment for ischemic stroke, we considered possible safety consequences if the technology was misapplied to stroke mimics, e.g., seizure. We hypothesized that magnetic facial nerve stimulation would worsen epileptiform activity in two animal models of active seizures. The rat intraperitoneal kainate model and pig intracortical penicillin model were employed. Magnetic facial nerve stimulation was delivered unilaterally at a variety of stimulation parameters, and the effect on ictal epileptiform activity measured by electroencephalography was determined according to an established categorical scale.
  
  
  
  In 6 rats and 3 pigs evaluated with 83 stimulation trials, only a single stimulation trial was associated with worsening epileptiform activity according to a standard categorization scheme. Surprisingly, a reduction in the severity of the epileptiform activity was observed in 20 of 50 stimulation trials using patterned stimulation (3 pulses at 30Hz repeated at 0.5-10Hz) versus 2 of 33 stimulation trials using simple monotonic patterns (P<0.005, chi-squared test). The reduction of epileptiform activity after stimulation lasted a few minutes and was reproducible. Major Conclusions Epileptiform activity measured by electroencephalography was not reliably worsened by repetitive facial nerve stimulation with pulsed magnetic energy, even when significant brain exposure to the magnetic field occurred as in the rat model. To the contrary, a temporary reduction in epileptiform activity was often, but not invariably, observed with certain stimulation parameters.
authors.affiliation: NeuroSpring, 35756 Foothills, Sterling Heights, MI 48312, United States; Nervive, Inc., 526 S. Main St., Suite 801-A, Akron, OH 44311, United States. Electronic address: mborsody@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Borsody
authors.affiliation: National Center for the Investigation of Imaging and Medical Instrumentation, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: NeuroSpring, 35756 Foothills, Sterling Heights, MI 48312, United States.
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bielawski
authors.affiliation: NeuroSpring, 35756 Foothills, Sterling Heights, MI 48312, United States.
authors.forename: Chisa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Nervive, Inc., 526 S. Main St., Suite 801-A, Akron, OH 44311, United States; National Center for the Investigation of Imaging and Medical Instrumentation, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sacristan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013552:Swine; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Cerebral blood flow; Facial nerve; Magnetic stimulation; Seizure