Circling Behavior and 2-Circling Behavior and 2-

deoxyglucose mapping in ratsdeoxyglucose mapping in rats

Damaly Ferreira and Tamara DennisDamaly Ferreira and Tamara Dennis

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Mentor: Dr. Jana VeliskovaMentor: Dr. Jana Veliskova

What is a Seizure?What is a Seizure?

Synchronized electrical discharges in the Synchronized electrical discharges in the brain. brain.

Most Common Causes of Seizures Most Common Causes of Seizures Genetic FactorsGenetic Factors

-Hereditary disorders or liable to seizures-Hereditary disorders or liable to seizures Head Injuries Head Injuries

-Skull fractures -Skull fractures Strokes/Cerebral Vascular DisordersStrokes/Cerebral Vascular Disorders

-Bleeding in or into the brain -Bleeding in or into the brain -Lack of blood flow to the brain -Lack of blood flow to the brain

Metabolic Disturbances Metabolic Disturbances -Electrolyte disturbances (change in sodium, calcium, -Electrolyte disturbances (change in sodium, calcium, or magnesium levels)or magnesium levels)-Hypoxia (lowered oxygen delivery to the brain)-Hypoxia (lowered oxygen delivery to the brain)-Hepatic failure (severe liver disease)-Hepatic failure (severe liver disease)

Toxic Causes Toxic Causes - Drugs:cocaine, heroine, amphetamines and PCP- Drugs:cocaine, heroine, amphetamines and PCP

InfectionsInfections-Meningitis, encephalitis and HIV -Meningitis, encephalitis and HIV

Tumors Tumors -Both malignant and benign -Both malignant and benign

Degenerative DisordersDegenerative Disorders-Tuberous sclerosis-Tuberous sclerosis-Neurofibromatosis-Neurofibromatosis-Phenylketonuria (PKU)-Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Brain Damage During BirthBrain Damage During Birth-Lack of Oxygen-Lack of Oxygen-Trauma -Trauma

FeverFever

Types of Seizures Types of Seizures

Partial/Focal SeizuresPartial/Focal Seizures

a. Simple Partial Seizures (Focal Jacksonian Seizures) a. Simple Partial Seizures (Focal Jacksonian Seizures) b. Complex Partial Seizures b. Complex Partial Seizures

Generalized SeizuresGeneralized Seizures a. Grand Mal Seizures (Tonic-Clonic Convulsions)a. Grand Mal Seizures (Tonic-Clonic Convulsions)b. Petit Mal Seizures (Absence Seizures) b. Petit Mal Seizures (Absence Seizures)

Simple Partial Seizures Simple Partial Seizures -Person remains conscious -Person remains conscious -Jerking of arms and legs -Jerking of arms and legs -Head turns from side to side-Head turns from side to side-Paralysis-Paralysis-Weak-Weak-Numbness-Numbness

Complex Partial Seizures Complex Partial Seizures -Occur during a 2-4 minutes time period-Occur during a 2-4 minutes time period-Stops suddenly and stares into space-Stops suddenly and stares into space-Automatisms -Automatisms -Confusion -Confusion -Unawareness -Unawareness -Deja Vu-Deja Vu

Grand Mal Seizures Grand Mal Seizures -Loss of Consciousness-Loss of Consciousness-Last for 5-20 minutes-Last for 5-20 minutes-Fall down or slump over -Fall down or slump over -Loss of bladder control-Loss of bladder control-Drooling or biting of tongue -Drooling or biting of tongue -Head and body jerks-Head and body jerks-Aura occurs -Aura occurs

Petit Mal SeizuresPetit Mal Seizures -May lose consciousness for 3-30 seconds-May lose consciousness for 3-30 seconds-Motor movements -Motor movements -No memory of event-No memory of event-Blank stare into space for 5-10 seconds (daydreaming)-Blank stare into space for 5-10 seconds (daydreaming)

Treatments Treatments

Medicine:Anti-convulsants (control but can not Medicine:Anti-convulsants (control but can not cure Seizures)cure Seizures)-Topiramate-Topiramate-Phenobarbital -Phenobarbital

SurgerySurgery-surgeons place electrodes beneath the scalp -surgeons place electrodes beneath the scalp that may help define epileptogenic areas of the that may help define epileptogenic areas of the brain. brain.

Side effects of Anti-convulsants Side effects of Anti-convulsants

DrowsinessDrowsiness NauseaNausea DizzinessDizziness Coordination problemsCoordination problems Difficulty concentratingDifficulty concentrating AggressivenessAggressiveness Acute GlaucomaAcute Glaucoma Visual abnormalityVisual abnormality

What is the Substantia Nigra?What is the Substantia Nigra?

Part of the midbrain that is responsible for Part of the midbrain that is responsible for movements. movements.

It is involved in the expression of It is involved in the expression of movements disorders and seizures.movements disorders and seizures.

It has two parts: Pars reticulta and pars It has two parts: Pars reticulta and pars compacta. compacta.

Substantia Nigra on a Coronal Substantia Nigra on a Coronal Section Section

Substantia Nigra on a Sagittal Substantia Nigra on a Sagittal section section

Methods & Procedures Methods & Procedures

Sprague Dawley rats at postnatal day 15Sprague Dawley rats at postnatal day 15 Intracranial Surgery to implant a cannula into the Intracranial Surgery to implant a cannula into the

substantia nigra pars reticulatasubstantia nigra pars reticulata Intranigral Microinfusion of muscimol to produce Intranigral Microinfusion of muscimol to produce

rotational behaviorrotational behavior 2- Deoxyglucose autoradiography to map the 2- Deoxyglucose autoradiography to map the

structures activated by the muscimol infusionstructures activated by the muscimol infusion

Objective Objective

To establish the features of the Substantia To establish the features of the Substantia Nigra and how the sex hormones influence Nigra and how the sex hormones influence it’s developmentit’s development

The Substania Nigra controls seizures. It The Substania Nigra controls seizures. It is a part of seizure controlling network and is a part of seizure controlling network and it is different in males and females. it is different in males and females.

References References Define Phenylketonuria. Define Phenylketonuria. www.healhscout.com/ency/article/001166www.healhscout.com/ency/article/001166 ; July ; July

20052005 Define Neurofibromatosis. www.Kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches : July Define Neurofibromatosis. www.Kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches : July

2005 2005 Dictionary definitions content: world net 2.0. Princeton University : copyright Dictionary definitions content: world net 2.0. Princeton University : copyright

2003 2003 Dr. Alan Greene. Dr. Alan Greene. www.drgreene.com/1-612.htmlwww.drgreene.com/1-612.html : July 1998 : July 1998 Dr. Jana Veliskova. Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva Dr. Jana Veliskova. Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva

University : July 2005 University : July 2005 Epilepsy. Epilepsy. http://minto.sd74.bc.ca/html/epilepsy /epelepsy.htmhttp://minto.sd74.bc.ca/html/epilepsy /epelepsy.htm : July 2005 : July 2005 NeurologyChannel. Neurologychannel.com/seizures/types.shtml: May 2005 NeurologyChannel. Neurologychannel.com/seizures/types.shtml: May 2005

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

Dr. Jana Veliskova Dr. Jana Veliskova Dr. Sat BhattacharyaDr. Sat Bhattacharya Harlem Children SocietyHarlem Children Society Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Hong Hong Ka Lai PoonKa Lai Poon