Effects of early life seizures on coordination of hippocampal-prefrontal networks: Influence of sex and dynamic brain states

Niedecker, RW; Kloc, ML; Holmes, GL; Barry, JM

HERO ID

9960732

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2021

Language

English

PMID

34002378

HERO ID 9960732
In Press No
Year 2021
Title Effects of early life seizures on coordination of hippocampal-prefrontal networks: Influence of sex and dynamic brain states
Authors Niedecker, RW; Kloc, ML; Holmes, GL; Barry, JM
Journal Epilepsia
Volume 62
Issue 7
Page Numbers 1701-1714
Abstract <strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>Early life seizures (ELSs) alter activity-dependent maturation of neuronal circuits underlying learning and memory. The pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning seizure-induced cognitive impairment are not fully understood, and critical variables such as sex and dynamic brain states with regard to cognitive outcomes have not been explored. We hypothesized that in comparison to control (CTL) rats, ELS rats would exhibit deficits in spatial cognition correlating with impaired dynamic neural signal coordination between the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).<br /><br /><strong>METHODS: </strong>Male and female rat pups were given 50 flurothyl-induced seizures over 10 days starting at postnatal Day 15. As adults, spatial cognition was tested through active avoidance on a rotating arena. Microwire tetrodes were implanted in the mPFC and CA1 subfield. Single cells and local field potentials were recorded and analyzed in each region during active avoidance and sleep.<br /><br /><strong>RESULTS: </strong>ELS males exhibited avoidance impairments, whereas female rats were unaffected. During avoidance, hippocampus-mPFC coherence was higher in CTL females than CTL males across bandwidths. In comparison to CTL males, ELS male learners exhibit increased coherence within theta bandwidth as well as altered burst-timing in mPFC cell activity. Hippocampus-mPFC coherence levels are predictive of cognitive outcome in the active avoidance spatial task.<br /><br /><strong>SIGNIFICANCE: </strong>Spatial cognitive outcome post-ELS is sex-dependent, as females fare better than males. ELS males that learn the task exhibit increased mPFC coherence levels at low-theta frequency, which may compensate for ELS effects on mPFC cell timing. These results suggest that coherence may serve as a biomarker for spatial cognitive outcome post-ELS and emphasize the significance of analyzing sex and dynamic cognition as variables in understanding seizure effects on the developing brain.
Doi 10.1111/epi.16927
Pmid 34002378
Wosid WOS:000651362900001
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword coherence; development; seizures; sex differences; sleep; spatial cognition