Implantable device reduces seizures and improves cognition in the epileptic rat



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Implantable device reduces seizures and improves cognition in the epileptic rat

Diagram of a clinically-sized device showing its main components and its function. The sectional view on the right shows the cells of the device. Credit: Giovanna Paolone

A protein-secreting device implanted in the hippocampus of epileptic rats reduces seizures by 93% in three months, according to a preclinical study published in JNeurosci. These findings support the ongoing development of this technology and its potential translation into a new treatment for epilepsy.

Giovanna Paolone and her colleagues at the University of Ferrara, Italy, and Gloriana Therapeutics, Inc. (Providence, RI), motivated by an unmet need for effective and well-tolerated epilepsy treatments, studied the effects of gloriana targeted cell delivery system for glial cells. Neurotrophic factor derived from a lineage (GDNF) – a protein suggested by a recent study could help suppress epileptic activity.

In addition to rapidly and progressively reducing seizures in male rats – by 75% in less than two weeks – the researchers found that their device improved the anxiety-like symptoms of the rats and their performance at the time of treatment. an object recognition task, indicating an improvement in cognition.

The treatment also corrected anomalies of cerebral anatomy badociated with epilepsy. These effects persisted even after the removal of the device, indicating that this approach could alter the progression of the disease.

Implantable device reduces seizures and improves cognition in the epileptic rat

GDNF releasing cells reduce the cell death induced by epilepsy. In a normal hippocampus (A), no overt signs of cell death can be observed, while many dying cells (stained green) are observed in the epileptic hippocampus (B). GDNF-releasing cells effectively attenuate cell death (C). Credit: Giovanna Paolone


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More information:
Targeted long-term delivery of GDNF from encapsulated cells is neuroprotective and reduces seizures, JNeurosci (2019). DOI: 10.1523 / JNEUROSCI.0435-18.2018

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Implantable device limits seizures and improves cognition in epileptic rats (January 21, 2019)
recovered on January 21, 2019
on https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-01-implantable-device-curbs-seizures-cognition.html

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