The role of the subiculum as a network player in physiological and pathological conditions

• Applicant: Dr. Matthias Dipper-Wawra
• Subject Area: Experimental Models for the Understanding of Nervous System Diseases
• Term: from 2021 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 455053935

Epilepsy is a chronic disease with a high level of burden for the individual patient. Nowadays, it is understood as a network disease. Despite some progress in the treatment of epilepsy in recent decades, about one third of epilepsies are drug-resistant. A fundamental characteristic of epilepsy, both in humans and in rodent models, is the development of epileptiform discharges in form of interictal spikes. Previous studies suggest that in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy spikes are generated in the subiculum, a part of the hippocampal formation. In addition, these spikes are subject to both circadian and multi-day rhythms. With help of these rhythmic spike patterns, it may also be possible to reliably predict the occurrence of epileptic seizures. But despite intensive research efforts, a reliable prediction of seizure manifestation has not yet been possible. However, this would be a prerequisite for new therapeutic approaches, such as intermittent brain stimulation.In the current research project, we want to investigate in an animal model (rat) the role of the subiculum in a specific neural network consisting of hippocampus, thalamus and prefrontal cortex. This network is of great importance for physiological functions such as memory formation and the consolidation of memory content. In addition, it is also involved in pathophysiological processes such as the spread of epileptic seizures and a number of other epilepsy-associated deficits, such as memory deterioration.We will study the function of the subiculum in the above-mentioned neural network in naive rats to gain a better understanding of the physiological role of this network. Furthermore, we will use an epilepsy model to investigate the generation and propagation of interical spikes in this network. A focus will be on circadian and longer rhythms of interical spikes and the control of these rhythms.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: France
• Host: Professor Christophe Bernard, Ph.D.