GABAergic synaptic transmission and cortical oscillation patterns in the primary somatosensory area of a valproic acid rat model of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social communication and interaction associated with repetitive or stereotyped behaviour. Prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure in rodents is a commonly used model of ASD. Resveratrol (RSV) has been shown to prevent interneuronal and behavioural impairments in the VPA model. We investigated the effects of prenatal VPA exposure and RSV on the GABAergic synaptic transmission, brain oscillations and on the genic expression of interneuron-associated transcription factor LHX6 in the primary somatosensory area (PSSA). Prenatal VPA exposure decreased the sIPSC and mIPSC frequencies and the sIPSC decay kinetics onto layers 4/5 pyramidal cells of PSSA. About 40% of VPA animals exhibited absence-like spike-wave discharge (SWD) events associated with behaviour arrest and increased power spectrum density of delta, beta and gamma cortical oscillations. VPA animals had reduced LHX6 expression in PSSA, but VPA animals treated with RSV had no changes on synaptic inhibition or LHX6 expression in the PSSA. SWD events associated with behaviour arrest and the abnormal increment of cortical oscillations were also absent in VPA animals treated with RSV. These findings provide new venues to investigate the role of both RSV and VPA in the pathophysiology of ASD and highlight the VPA animal model as an interesting tool to investigate pathways related to the aetiology and possible future therapies to this neuropsychiatric disorder.

In vitro Oscillation Patterns Throughout the Hippocampal Formation in a Rodent Model of Epilepsy.

Specific oscillatory patterns are considered biomarkers of pathological neuronal network in brain diseases, such as epilepsy. However, the dynamics of underlying oscillations during the epileptogenesis throughout the hippocampal formation in the temporal lobe epilepsy is not clear. Here, we characterized in vitro oscillatory patterns within the hippocampal formation of epileptic rats, under 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced hyperexcitability and during the spontaneous network activity, at two periods of epileptogenesis. First, at the beginning of epileptic chronic phase, 30 days post-pilocarpine-induced Status Epilepticus (SE). Second, at the established epilepsy, 60 days post-SE. The 4-AP-bathed slices from epileptic rats had increased susceptibility to ictogenesis in CA1 at 30 days post-SE, and in entorhinal cortex and dentate gyrus at 60 days post-SE. Higher power and phase coherence were detected mainly for gamma and/or high frequency oscillations (HFOs), in a region- and stage-specific manner. Interestingly, under spontaneous network activity, even without 4-AP-induced hyperexcitability, slices from epileptic animals already exhibited higher power of gamma and HFOs in different areas of hippocampal formation at both periods of epileptogenesis, and higher phase coherence in fast ripples at 60 days post-SE. These findings reinforce the critical role of gamma and HFOs in each one of the hippocampal formation areas during ongoing neuropathological processes, tuning the neuronal network to epilepsy.

GABAergic interneurons in epilepsy: More than a simple change in inhibition.

The pathophysiology of epilepsy has been historically grounded on hyperexcitability attributed to the oversimplified imbalance between excitation (E) and inhibition (I) in the brain. The decreased inhibition is mostly attributed to deficits in gamma-aminobutyric acid-containing (GABAergic) interneurons, the main source of inhibition in the central nervous system. However, the cell diversity, the wide range of spatiotemporal connectivity, and the distinct effects of the neurotransmitter GABA especially during development, must be considered to critically revisit the concept of hyperexcitability caused by decreased inhibition as a key characteristic in the development of epilepsy. Here, we will discuss that behind this known mechanism, there is a heterogeneity of GABAergic interneurons with distinct functions and sources, which have specific roles in controlling the neural network activity within the recruited microcircuit and altered network during the epileptogenic process. This article is part of the Special Issue "NEWroscience 2018.

Impairment of GABAergic system contributes to epileptogenesis in glutaric acidemia type I.

OBJECTIVES: Glutaric acidemia type I (GA-I) is an inherited neurometabolic disorder caused by deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) and characterized by increased levels of glutaric, 3-OH-glutaric, and glutaconic acids in the brain parenchyma. The increment of these organic acids inhibits glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and consequently lowers the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis. Untreated patients exhibit severe neurologic deficits during development, including epilepsy, especially following an acute encephalopathy outbreak. In this work, we evaluated the role of the GABAergic system on epileptogenesis in GA-I using the Gcdh-/- mice exposed to a high lysine diet (Gcdh-/- -Lys). METHODS: Spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), seizure susceptibility, and changes in brain oscillations were evaluated by video-electroencephalography (EEG). Cortical GABAergic synaptic transmission was evaluated using electrophysiologic and neurochemical approaches. RESULTS: SRS were observed in 72% of Gcdh-/- -Lys mice, whereas no seizures were detected in age-matched controls (Gcdh+/+ or Gcdh-/- receiving normal diet). The severity and number of PTZ-induced seizures were higher in Gcdh-/- -Lys mice. EEG spectral analysis showed a significant decrease in theta and gamma oscillations and predominant delta waves in Gcdh-/- -Lys mice, associated with increased EEG left index. Analysis of cortical synaptosomes revealed a significantly increased percentage of glutamate release and decreased GABA release in Gcdh-/- -Lys mice that were associated with a decrease in cortical GAD immunocontent and activity and confirmed by reduced frequency of inhibitory events in cortical pyramidal cells. SIGNIFICANCE: Using an experimental model with a phenotype similar to that of GA-I in humans-the Gcdh-/- mice under high lysine diet (Gcdh-/- -Lys)-we provide evidence that a reduction in cortical inhibition of Gcdh-/- -Lys mice, probably induced by GAD dysfunction, leads to hyperexcitability and increased slow oscillations associated with neurologic abnormalities in GA-I. Our findings offer a new perspective on the pathophysiology of brain damage in GA-I.