Chemogenetic attenuation of cortical seizures in nonhuman primates

Naohisa Miyakawa, Yuji Nagai, Yukiko Hori, Koki Mimura, Asumi Orihara, Kei Oyama, Takeshi Matsuo, Ken ichi Inoue, Takafumi Suzuki, Toshiyuki Hirabayashi, Tetsuya Suhara, Masahiko Takada, Makoto Higuchi, Keisuke Kawasaki, Takafumi Minamimoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Epilepsy is a disorder in which abnormal neuronal hyperexcitation causes several types of seizures. Because pharmacological and surgical treatments occasionally interfere with normal brain function, a more focused and on-demand approach is desirable. Here we examined the efficacy of a chemogenetic tool—designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs)—for treating focal seizure in a nonhuman primate model. Acute infusion of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline into the forelimb region of unilateral primary motor cortex caused paroxysmal discharges with twitching and stiffening of the contralateral arm, followed by recurrent cortical discharges with hemi- and whole-body clonic seizures in two male macaque monkeys. Expression of an inhibitory DREADD (hM4Di) throughout the seizure focus, and subsequent on-demand administration of a DREADD-selective agonist, rapidly suppressed the wide-spread seizures. These results demonstrate the efficacy of DREADDs for attenuating cortical seizure in a nonhuman primate model.

Original languageEnglish
Article number971
JournalNature communications
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12-2023
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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