Abstract
BackgroundMesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is the most common type of refractory epilepsy, and non-human primate (NHP) models are important to investigate its mechanism and therapy. However, previous mTLE-NHP models have some defects. MethodsThirteen rhesus monkeys were randomly assigned to a control group and epilepsy group. Kainic acid (KA) was injected into the left hippocampus and amygdala assisted by a neurosurgical robot system, while the control group received normal saline injection. Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes were implanted into the hippocampus in the acute and chronic stages to monitor epileptic discharges, with continuous behavior monitoring. The changes in hippocampal volume were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Transmission electron microscopy, western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed 3 months after injection to investigate neuronal ultrastructural alteration, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, neuronal loss and gliosis in multiple brain regions. ResultsIn the epilepsy group, status epilepticus (SE) and spontaneously recurrent seizures (SRSs) were detected in the acute and chronic stages via video monitoring. SEEG confirmed that the epileptic zone was focused on the injection area. The hippocampal volume was significantly decreased in the chronic stage compared with baseline. Neuronal ultrastructure and BBB integrity deteriorated in the hippocampus and amygdala of epileptic monkeys. The obvious neuronal loss and gliosis in the CA1–CA4 hippocampal regions were confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence; however, the temporal cortex was not affected. Moreover, the neuronal ultrastructural deterioration was detected in other limbic system regions (orbitofrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex). ConclusionA novel mTLE-NHP model was induced by one-time intra-hippocampal and intra-amygdalar KA injection, with detectable SE and SRS. Severe hippocampal atrophy, neuronal ultrastructural damage, BBB disruption, neuronal loss and gliosis were confirmed in this model, with widespread limbic system damage, which are similar to the pathology of mTLE patients.
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