Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Abstract

Ancient Chinese literature has documented that acupuncture possesses efficient therapeutic effects on epilepsy and insomnia. There is, however, little research to reveal the possible mechanisms behind these effects. To investigate the effect of acupuncture on epilepsy and sleep, several issues need to be addressed. The first is to identify the acupoints, which correspond between humans, rats, and mice. Furthermore, the depth of insertion of the acupuncture needle, the degree of needle twist in manual needle acupuncture, and the stimulation parameters for electroacupuncture (EA) need to be determined. To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on epilepsy and sleep, a feasible model of epilepsy in rodents is required. We administer pilocarpine into the left central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to simulate focal temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in rats. Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of pilocarpine induces generalized epilepsy and status epilepticus (SE) in rats. Five IP injections of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) with a one-day interval between each injection successfully induces spontaneous generalized epilepsy in mice. Recordings of electrocorticograms (ECoGs), electromyograms (EMGs), brain temperature, and locomotor activity are used for sleep analysis in rats, while ECoGs, EMGs, and locomotor activity are employed for sleep analysis in mice. ECoG electrodes are implanted into the frontal, parietal, and contralateral occipital cortices, and a thermistor is implanted above the cerebral cortex by stereotactic surgery. EMG electrodes are implanted into the neck muscles, and an infrared detector determines locomotor activity. The criteria for categorizing vigilance stages, including wakefulness, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM (NREM) sleep are based on information from ECoGs, EMGs, brain temperature, and locomotor activity. Detailed classification criteria are stated in the text.

Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporters-1 Inhibitors Act as Anti-epileptic Agents by Inhibiting Glutamatergic Transmission

“…The PTZ kindling epilepsy model was induced as previously described (Yi et al, 2016). Briefly, the EEGs electrode-implanted mice were injected with a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (35 mg kg −1 ) on 1-day interval between each injection.…”

“…Briefly, the EEGs electrode-implanted mice were injected with a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (35 mg kg −1 ) on 1-day interval between each injection. According to the methods reported by Yi et al (2016), five injections of PTZ were required to acquire kindling. The kindled seizures were considered successful when the spontaneous epileptic waveforms on hippocampus EEGs (as defined above) were observed.…”

Effects of N6‐(4‐hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside in stress‐induced insomnia in rodents

“…Two electromyogram (EMG) electrodes were implanted in the neck muscle. Sleep–wake activity was recorded and analysed according to our previous publication (Yi, Jou, Wu, & Chang, 2016). An additional ICV guide cannula (Plastics One) was directly implanted in the lateral ventricular (coordinates: Anteroposterior (AP), −1.0 mm; Mediolateral (ML), 1.6 mm; Dorsoventral (DV), 3.5 mm relative to bregma) in rats.…”

The Role of Nondrug Treatment Methods in the Management of Epilepsy

“…These effects are explained by the amplification of recurrent inhibition of the brain cortex and hippocampus with the liberation of different neurotransmitters, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin. However, due to the lack of controlled clinical trials, those methods cannot be recommended as reliably effective and safe in epileptology [30].…”