Cellular interactions in the rat somatosensory thalamocortical system during normal and epileptic 5-9 Hz oscillations

J Physiol. 2003 Nov 1;552(Pt 3):881-905. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.046573. Epub 2003 Aug 15.

Abstract

In Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS), generalized spike-and-wave (SW) discharges (5-9 SW s(-1)) develop during quiet immobile wakefulness from a natural, medium-voltage, 5-9 Hz rhythm. This study examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of cellular interactions in the somatosensory thalamocortical system underlying the generation of normal and epileptic 5-9 Hz oscillations. Paired single-unit and multi-unit recordings between the principal elements of this circuit and intracellular recordings of thalamic, relay and reticular, neurones were conducted in neuroleptanalgesied GAERS and control, non-epileptic, rats. The identity of the recorded neurones was established following juxtacellular or intracellular marking. At least six major findings have emerged from this study. (1) In GAERS, generalized spike-and-wave discharges were correlated with synchronous rhythmic firings in related thalamic relay and reticular neurones. (2) Usually, corticothalamic discharges phase-led related relay and reticular firings. (3) A depolarizing wave emerging from a barrage of EPSPs was the cause of both relay and reticular discharges. (4) In some relay cells, which had a relatively high membrane input resistance, the depolarizing wave had the shape of a ramp, which could trigger a low-threshold Ca2+ spike. (5) In reticular cells, the EPSP barrage could further trigger voltage-dependent depolarizations. (6) The epilepsy-related thalamic, relay and reticular, intracellular activities were similar to the normal-related thalamic activities. Overall, these findings strongly suggest that, during absence seizures, corticothalamic neurones play a primary role in the synchronized excitation of thalamic relay and reticular neurones. The present study further suggests that absence-related spike-and-wave discharges correspond to hypersynchronous wake-related physiological oscillations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Communication
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Absence / pathology
  • Epilepsy, Absence / physiopathology*
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
  • Male
  • Oscillometry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reaction Time
  • Somatosensory Cortex / pathology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Thalamic Nuclei / physiopathology
  • Thalamus / pathology
  • Thalamus / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Calcium