What causes seizures in the temporal lobe
Temporal lobe epileptogenesis
This project looks at whether losing a specific type of brain cell in the hippocampus helps cause seizures in people with temporal lobe epilepsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11314537 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on reelin-positive interneurons in the dentate gyrus, a part of the hippocampus, to see if losing these cells is linked to seizures. The team will use pilocarpine-treated rats and sea lions that naturally develop temporal lobe epilepsy and will monitor seizures with continuous telemetric video-EEG. They will examine brain tissue with immunostaining and stereology and measure individual neuron connections using whole-cell and paired electrophysiological recordings with biocytin labeling. The investigators will also test whether reducing or removing these cells can trigger seizures by delivering agents directly into the brain with mini-osmotic pumps.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with temporal lobe epilepsy, particularly those with recurrent focal seizures thought to originate in the hippocampus, would be most directly relevant to the findings.
Not a fit: People with generalized epilepsy or seizure types not related to the hippocampus are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, identifying a specific interneuron type that triggers seizures could point to new ways to prevent or treat temporal lobe epilepsy.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have linked interneuron loss to epilepsy, but focusing on reelin-positive cells and combining sea lion models with detailed electrophysiology is a relatively novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buckmaster, Paul S. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Buckmaster, Paul S.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.