Opportunities for improving animal welfare in rodent models of epilepsy and seizures

Animal models of epilepsy and seizures, mostly involving mice and rats, are used to understand the pathophysiology of the different forms of epilepsy and their comorbidities, to identify biomarkers, and to discover new antiepileptic drugs and treatments for comorbidities. Such models represent an important area for application of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use). This report provides background information and recommendations aimed at minimising pain, suffering and distress in rodent models of epilepsy and seizures in order to improve animal welfare and optimise the quality of studies in this area. The report includes practical guidance on principles of choosing a model, induction procedures, in vivo recordings, perioperative care, welfare assessment, humane endpoints, social housing, environmental enrichment, reporting of studies and data sharing. In addition, some model-specific welfare considerations are discussed, and data gaps and areas for further research are identified. The guidance is based upon a systematic review of the scientific literature, survey of the international epilepsy research community, consultation with veterinarians and animal care and welfare officers, and the expert opinion and practical experience of the members of a Working Group convened by the United Kingdom's National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

New Fluorinated 1,2,4-Benzothiadiazine 1,1-Dioxides: Discovery of an Orally Active Cognitive Enhancer Acting through Potentiation of the 2-Amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionic Acid Receptors

In the search of a potent cognitive enhancer, a series of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides have been synthesized and evaluated as positive allosteric modulators of the AMPA receptors. In the present work, we focused our efforts on the insertion of mono- or polyfluoro- substituted alkyl chains at the 4-position of the thiadiazine ring in an attempt to enhance the pharmacokinetic behavior of previously described compounds. Among all the described compounds, 7-chloro-4-(2-fluoroethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide, 12b, was shown to exert a strong activity on AMPA receptors in vitro and a marked cognitive-enhancing effect in vivo after oral administration to Wistar rats. Considering its in vivo activity, the metabolic degradation of 12b was studied and compared to that of its nonfluorinated analogue 9b. Taken together, results of this study clearly validated the positive impact of the fluorine atom on the alkyl chain at the 4-position of benzothiadiazine dioxides on activity and metabolic stability

Exploring thienothiadiazine dioxides as isosteric analogues of benzo-and pyridothiadiazine dioxides in the search of new AMPA and kainate receptor positive allosteric modulators

peer reviewedThe synthesis and biological evaluation on AMPA and kainate receptors of new examples of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-thieno[3,2-e]-1,2,4-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxides is described. The introduction of a cyclopropyl chain instead of an ethyl chain at the 4-position of the thiadiazine ring was found to dramatically improve the potentiator activity on AMPA receptors, with compound 32 (BPAM395) expressing in vitro activity on AMPARs (EC2x = 0.24 μM) close to that of the reference 4-cyclopropyl-substituted benzothiadiazine dioxide 10 (BPAM344). Interestingly, the 4-allyl-substituted thienothiadiazine dioxide 27 (BPAM307) emerged as the most promising compound on kainate receptors being a more effective potentiator than the 4-cyclopropyl-substituted thienothiadiazine dioxide 32 and supporting the view that the 4-allyl substitution of the thiadiazine ring could be more favorable than the 4-cyclopropyl substitution to induce marked activity on kainate receptors versus AMPA receptors. The thieno-analogue 36 (BPAM279) of the clinically tested S18986 (11) was selected for in vivo evaluation in mice as a cognitive enhancer due to a safer profile than 32 after massive per os drug administration. Compound 36 was found to increase the cognition performance in mice at low doses (1 mg/kg) per os suggesting that the compound was well absorbed after oral administration and able to reach the central nervous system. Finally, compound 32 was selected for co-crystallization with the GluA2-LBD (L504Y,N775S) and glutamate to examine the binding mode of thienothiadiazine dioxides within the allosteric binding site of the AMPA receptor. At the allosteric site, this compound established similar interactions as the previously reported BTD-type AMPA receptor modulators

Autonomous space exploration using the Turtlebot mobile platform

Cilj diplomske naloge je implementacija avtonomnega raziskovanja prostora na mobilni platformi Turtlebot, ki uporablja razvojno okolje ROS. Implementirali smo raziskovalni algoritem, ki temelji na zaznavi obrobij in njihovi uporabi kot potencialnih raziskovalnih ciljev. Ker pa lahko algoritem pri izbiri raziskovalnih ciljev upošteva različne kombinacije ocen raziskovanja, smo nato preizkušali in primerjali, katera kombinacija ocen omogoča najbolj učinkovito raziskovanje prostora. Različne strategije izbire raziskovalnih ciljev smo ocenjevali in primerjali na podlagi štirih kriterijev ter referenčne strategije, ki naključno izbira raziskovalne cilje. Podatke za primerjavo smo dobili tako, da smo za vsako strategijo opravili deset uspešnih raziskovanj. Te smo nato kot skupine povprečnih vrednosti in odstopanj primerjali med seboj na podlagi referenčne strategije in kriterijev. Implementirali smo modul, ki poleg raziskanosti prostora in časa raziskovanja omogoča tudi beleženje zgodovine premikov in s tem pot raziskovanja, ki jo opravi Turtlebot.The purpose of this undergraduate thesis is to implement the autonomous exploration of space on the Turtlebot mobile platform that uses the ROS development environment. We implemented an exploration algorithm based on the detection and use of frontier regions as potential exploration goals. Since the algorithm is able to choose an exploration goal based on the combination of different assessments, we tested and compared which combination of goal assessments enables the most efficient exploration of a given space. We assessed and compared different strategies of goal setting on the basis of four criteria and a referential strategy which selects its exploration goals randomly. In order to get the data necessary for comparison, we conducted ten successful explorations per strategy and compared them on the basis of the referential strategy and criteria. We implemented our own module, which tracks the amount of space explored and the time spent for exploration, while also documenting the path traveled by the Turtlebot during exploration

Enhanced tonic GABAA inhibition in typical absence epilepsy

The cellular mechanisms underlying typical absence seizures, which characterize various idiopathic generalized epilepsies, are not fully understood, but impaired GABAergic inhibition remains an attractive hypothesis. In contrast, we show here that extrasynaptic GABAA receptor–dependent ‘tonic’ inhibition is increased in thalamocortical neurons from diverse genetic and pharmacological models of absence seizures. Increased tonic inhibition is due to compromised GABA uptake by the GABA transporter GAT–1 in the genetic models tested, and GAT–1 is critical in governing seizure genesis. Extrasynaptic GABAA receptors are a requirement for seizures in two of the best characterized models of absence epilepsy, and the selective activation of thalamic extrasynaptic GABAA receptors is sufficient to elicit both electrographic and behavioural correlates of seizures in normal animals. These results identify an apparently common cellular pathology in typical absence seizures that may have epileptogenic significance, and highlight novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of absence epilepsy.peer-reviewe

Specific In Vivo Staining of Astrocytes in the Whole Brain after Intravenous Injection of Sulforhodamine Dyes

Fluorescent staining of astrocytes without damaging or interfering with normal brain functions is essential for intravital microscopy studies. Current methods involved either transgenic mice or local intracerebral injection of sulforhodamine 101. Transgenic rat models rarely exist, and in mice, a backcross with GFAP transgenic mice may be difficult. Local injections of fluorescent dyes are invasive. Here, we propose a non-invasive, specific and ubiquitous method to stain astrocytes in vivo. This method is based on iv injection of sulforhodamine dyes and is applicable on rats and mice from postnatal age to adulthood. The astrocytes staining obtained after iv injection was maintained for nearly half a day and showed no adverse reaction on astrocytic calcium signals or electroencephalographic recordings in vivo. The high contrast of the staining facilitates the image processing and allows to quantify 3D morphological parameters of the astrocytes and to characterize their network. Our method may become a reference for in vivo staining of the whole astrocytes population in animal models of neurological disorders

GABAB receptors in maintenance of neocortical circuit function

Activation of metabotropic GABA(B) receptors (GABA(B)Rs), which enhances tonic GABA current, substantially increases the frequency of spontaneous seizures. Despite these pro-epileptic consequences of GABA(B)R activation, mice lacking functional GABA(B) receptors (GABA(B1)R KO mice) exhibit clonic and rare absence seizures. To examine these mice further, we recorded excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs and tonic GABA currents from Layer 2 neocortical pyramidal neurons of GABA(B1)R WT and KO mice (P30-40). Tonic current was increased while the frequency of synaptic inputs was unchanged in KO mice relative to WT littermates. The neocortical laminar distribution of interneuron subtypes derived from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) was also not statistically different in KO mice relative to WT while the number of calretinin-positive, caudal GEderived, cells in Layer 1 was reduced. Transplantation of MGE progenitors obtained from KO mice lacking functional GABA(B1)R did not increase tonic inhibition in the host brain above that of media-injected controls. Taken together, these results suggest a complex role for GABA(B) receptors in mediating neocortical circuit function

A critical evaluation of the gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) model of absence seizures

Typical absence seizures (ASs) are nonconvulsive epileptic events which are commonly observed in pediatric and juvenile epilepsies and may be present in adults suffering from other idiopathic generalized epilepsies. Our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of ASs has been greatly advanced by the availability of genetic and pharmacological models, in particular the γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) model which, in recent years, has been extensively used in studies in transgenic mice. GHB is an endogenous brain molecule that upon administration to various species, including humans, induces not only ASs but also a state of sedation/hypnosis. Analysis of the available data clearly indicates that only in the rat does there exist a set of GHB-elicited behavioral and EEG events that can be confidently classified as ASs. Other GHB activities, particularly in mice, appear to be mostly of a sedative/hypnotic nature: thus, their relevance to ASs requires further investigation. At the molecular level, GHB acts as a weak GABA-B agonist, while the existence of a GHB receptor remains elusive. The pre- and postsynaptic actions underlying GHB-elicited ASs have been thoroughly elucidated in thalamus, but little is known about the cellular/network effects of GHB in neocortex, the other brain regions involved in the generation of ASs.peer-reviewe