Experimental study of focused ultrasound on focal epilepsy in brain functional area

Abstract

Objective To investigate the safety, efficacy and therapeutic mechanism of focused ultrasound surgery (FUS) on focal epilepsy of brain functional area in cat. Methods The focal epileptic models in the cats' motor cortex by penicillin were established. The different techniques were apphed in the animals epilepsy model. FUS, cortex thermocoagulation and multiple subpial transaction (MST) were compared in seizure control and functional preservation by observing behavior and electroencephalogram ( EEG), and the therapentic mechanism was compared by analysis of histopathology in the damaged cortex. Results In seizure control and EEG changes, three kinds of techniques were similar without prominent difference in statistics (P ＞ 0.05). The same pathologic changes were showed in FUS group and cortex thermocoagulation group, ischemic change and coagulative necrosis of superficial layer nerval cells. The major pathologic change in MST group was an irregular crevice which was vertical with the surface of the cortex. The edema and mild gliosis were found around the crevice. Conclusions The focused ultrasound can effectively destroy and cut off the association of cortical horizontal fibre, meanwhile, the cortical function still to be reserved.Therefore, FUS is safe and effective as well as MST and cortex thermocoagulation on focal epilepsy in brain functional area. Key words: Focused ultrasound; Focal epilepsy; Multiple subpial transaction; Cortex thermocoagulation; Coagulative necrosis