Search

Introduction: Chronic prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is the most commonly diagnosed non-infectious prostatitis in urology. Studies have shown that CP/CPPS can induce neuroinflammation, which may result in CNS hyperexcitability and a tendency to develop epileptic seizures. Spike salvos are ictal EEG graph elements typical for the experimental model of lindane-induced seizures. There are a number of mathematical models for quantitative analysis of EEG, including the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). It transforms the signal from time into the frequency domain, providing information on Power Spectral Densities (PSD). Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the basic characteristics of epileptiform discharges induced by subconvulsive dose of lindane in rats, with experimentally induced CP/CPPS. Material and methods: CP/CPPS was induced by intraprostatic injection of 3% l-carrageenan in male Wistar albino rats. Animals with CP/CPPS were implanted with EEG registration electrodes, and then administered lindane (4 mg/kg, i.p, experimental group, n = 6 per group) or its solvent (DMSO, control group, n = 6 per group). An 8-channel EEG device was used in combination with software developed in the laboratory (NeuroSciLaBG). Ictal EEG epochs were extracted from the original signal and FFT analysis was performed to obtain information taking into account PSD in predefined frequency bands. Results: There was no ictal activity in the EEG of control animals. In experimental animals, ictal activity occurred and the mean duration of the ictal period was 2.06 s. FFT analysis revealed that the Alpha frequency range (7-15 Hz) was markedly dominant during ictal activity. Conclusion: The results of this study showed the characteristics of epileptiform discharges in animals with experimentally induced CP/CPPS. This study and animal model are suitable for future translational studies of the comorbidities of this syndrome.

Introduction: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is one of the most common diseases of genitourinary system in male population. It is frequently accompanied by psychosocial disorders which include anxiety. Despite numerous clinical studies, the mechanisms of this link are still unclear, partly due to the lack of studies on experimental animal models. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine locomotion activity and anxiety in rats, with experimentally induced CP/CPPS, using the open field test. Material and methods: Wistar male rats were randomly distributed into control and experimental group. In experimental group, CP/CPPS was induced by single intraprostatic injection of 3% l-carrageenan. Development of pelvic pain syndrome was assessed by evaluating mechanical pain thresholds by electronic von Frey aesthesiometer (eVF). The rats were individually tested in the open field, seventh day following the intraprostatic injection. Results: In animals from the experimental group, distance and time of ambulatory movement in the open field test were significantly decreased, number of rearing reduced, time spent in the center of the open field significantly decreased, while index of thigmotaxis was significantly increased compared to the control animals. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate anxiogenic effect of CP/CPPS in rats.

Epilepsy is a very prevalent neurological disorder. The gold standard in diagnosis of epilepsy is the EEG signal recorded during a seizure with characteristic ictal pattern. Automated systems for detection of seizures are a field of intensive research, in an attempt to create a reproducible, observer-independent mechanism for epilepsy diagnosis. Chronic therapy is a cornerstone of the epilepsy treatment, but the possibility to predict seizure onset and, consequently, to act with medications right before the seizure, instead of relying on everyday medications, is considered the holy grail of epilepsy research. Significant element of morbidity and mortality in epilepsy is sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) that occurs in roughly 1% of patients. Signal analysis techniques for EEG have been a staple in epilepsy research, but recently, with the rise of telemetric systems, heart rate variability (HRV) analysis derived from the ECG signal has been gaining importance. It has been found that perturbations in autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation occur during, and even up to several minutes before, seizure onset allowing for changes in HRV to act in prediction, as well as detection, of seizures. Also, there is a compelling research exploring the extent of autonomic disbalance during seizures, as well as in the interictal periods in patients at risk for or that have had SUDEP. The focus of this review is to give a short crossection of research involving the utility HRV has in prediction and detection of seizure onset, as well as determining etiology classification and risk evaluation in SUDEP.

Introduction: EEG is a widely used method of epilepsy examination. In order to quantitatively inspect ictal EEG findings, a number of mathematical models have been developed over the years, one of them being the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). It transforms the signal from time domain into frequency domain, giving information about their power spectral densities (PSD). Lindane is a well-established neurotoxic agent often used in experimental studies as a model of generalized epilepsy. This study aims to quantitatively examine the characteristics of ictal EEG activity in rats on model of generalized epilepsy induced by lindane. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino rats were used for the study. Electrodes were surgically implanted over the frontal, parietal and occipital cortices of each animal for EEG recording purposes prior to lindane administration in convulsive dose. An 8-channel EEG apparatus was used, combined with a software developed in the Laboratory (NeuroSciLaBG). Ictal EEG epochs were extracted from the original signal and FFT analysis performed to obtain information considering PSD in predefined frequency bands. Amplitude histogram feature of the software was used to differentiate ictal spikes based on their voltage. Results: FFT analysis has yielded important information regarding spectral powers in frequency domain. Ictal EEG showed considerable stratification, theta frequency band (4-7 Hz) being markedly dominant. Amplitude histogram showed the majority of spikes to be in the voltage ranges up to 250 μV, while higher voltage spikes were rarely observed. Conclusion: FFT is capable of giving important information about ictal period characteristics. Ictal periods induced by lindane are characterized by dominancy of theta rhythm and spiking activity mostly in amplitude bins up to 250 μV. FFT and amplitude histograms can be of critical importance in the future pharmacological and toxicity studies.

Epilepsy is a chronic, common, neurological disorder marked by transient, paroxysmal and hypersynchronous activity of the brain neurons, behaviorally manifested as seizures. It is developed through the process of epileptogenesis which alters neuronal excitability, establishes critical interconnections and develop neuronal hyperexcitability and degeneration, as well as the neuronal network reorganization as its main mechanisms. There are a number of different mechanisms of epileptogenesis, including neuroinflammation as a recently highlighted important novel mechanism. In this review paper, our focus will be to light up the latest findings about neuroinflammation as a pathogenic factor in epileptogenesis. Neuroinflammation is characterized by the structural and functional alteration of the CNS glial cells and peripherally derived immune cells with the presence of blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction as main mechanisms. Disequilibrium in the CNS microenvironment is often followed by increased synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and chemokines. The interplay between glial alteration, BBB dysfunction, cytokines and chemokines establish a positive feedback cascade for further epileptogenesis. It is still unclear if neuroinflammation is causing epileptogenesis or whether in a consequence of that, but, there are clear findings about positive feedback between these two processes. This interconnection could be a helpful key to better target therapeutic treatment of neuroinflammation for providing beneficial effects for patients with epilepsy.

Sleep represents physiological process which effects are crucial to maintain homeostasis. Sleep disturbances are widely spread within the population worldwide. The loss in quantity or quality of sleep is associated with numerous diseases. Also, sleep disturbances are highly connected to depressive disorders, but exact mechanism of this interaction still remains unknown. Understanding the underlying mechanisms could be the key for treatment of both disorders especially in patients with psychosomatic and psychiatric comorbidities. Therefore, in this article, we will summarize the most recent findings on the connection between sleep disturbances and depressive disorders, including the mechanisms of this interaction.

Introduction: Epileptic seizure consists of preictal, ictal and postictal period. Postictal period is characterized by a variety of psychiatric phenomenon of which the most frequent ones are anxiety and depressive disorder. Anxiety in rodents can be assessed by measuring the exploratory behavior. Lindane evokes generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures in rats, when applied intraperitoneally, due to its lypophilic characteristics. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess exploratory behavior linked with anxiety level in the elevated plus maze test (EPM) upon generalized seizures, induced by lindane in male rats. Material and methods: The experiment was conducted on Wistar albino male rats that were randomly divided into: control group (DMSO, 0.5 ml/kg) and experimental group (lindane, 8 mg/kg) (n=8, each). After the drug injection, the assessment of the seizure intensity lasted for 30 minutes. Descriptive rating scale was used to describe the seizure severity. Subsequently, the EPM testing took place immediately after evoking the seizure (Test 1), after 1h (Test 2) and after 24h (Test 3). Time spent in open areas and number of transitions was further analyzed. Results: Experimental group of animals spent less time in open areas of EPM, when compared to controls in Test 1 and Test 2. The same holds true for the number of transitions to the open area, i.e. lindane-treated animals tend to stay in enclosed parts of the maze in Test1, Test 2. Finally, in Test 3 there was no significant difference between the groups, in any parameter of interest. Conclusion: Lindane-induced generalized epileptic seizures are accompanied by reduced exploratory behavior in the elevated plus maze test, up to 24h after the seizure ended. This finding can be a basis for the further translational research of anxiety as epileptic comorbidity in this experimental model of epilepsy.