Verification of Successful Kainic Acid Injections in a Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Mouse Model

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most prominent form of partial epilepsy in adults. Reproductive endocrine comorbidities appear in patients with TLE at significantly higher rates than in the general population. These comorbidities include polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothalamic amenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, irregular menstrual cycle, lower testosterone levels, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and decreased semen motility. It is believed that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus play an important role in the development of these comorbidities. The kainic acid (KA) mouse model is used to study epilepsy-associated changes in GnRH neurophysiology. Our lab recently observed that the activity of GnRH neurons is altered in KA-injected mice (Li et al., eNeuro 2018). To ensure validity of the data, we must verify the success of all KA injections as indicated by the presence of sclerosis and/or gliosis in the hippocampus. Nissl (Cresyl violet) staining is used to visually verify the presence of sclerosis. This research seeks to determine if all KA injections effectively trigger seizures and later development of hippocampal damage and to identify effectiveness of the different methods of verification