A Deep Dive in the Involvement of the Cerebellum in Epilepsy: A Neuroanatomical and Cellular Approach.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the state-of-art of neuroanatomical and cellular aspects of the cerebellum in epilepsy. Over the years, cerebellum epileptogenesis has been widely studied. There is growing evidence linking the cerebellum with this pathology by several other structures involved: mainly the limbic system, thalamus, cerebral cortex, red nucleus, and reticular formation. As a result, these anatomical and cellular changes in the cerebellum might trigger the genesis and propagation of seizures. We herewith outline the cerebellum's deep nuclei physiological pathways, responsible for seizure spread via ion channels and neurotransmitter dysfunction. Additionally, we describe the shifts in seizures produced after cell death, gene expression, and protein interaction with their respective molecular and anatomical pathways. Finally, we highlight the role played by the cerebellum in seizure propagation to the brain and how it can be counteracted in some subtypes of drug-resistant epilepsy.