Lateral asymmetry in activation of hypothalamic neurons with unilateral amygdaloid seizures

D. C. Silveira, P. Klein, B. J. Ransil, Z. Liu, A. Hori, G. L. Holmes, S. De LaCalle, J. Elmquist, A. G. Herzog

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Reproductive disorders are unusually frequent among women with temporal lobe seizures. The particular type of disorder may be related to the laterality and locality of epileptiform discharges. Here we examined whether unilateral amygdaloid seizures activate hypothalamic neurons involved in reproductive function and reproductive endocrine secretion in female rats and whether such activation shows lateral asymmetry. Methods: Numbers of Fos- immunoreactive (Fos-ir) neurons in various hypothalamic regions were compared for three groups of animals: (a) unilateral amygdala-kindled, (b) implanted but unstimulated, and (c) unimplanted. Results: Fos-ir neurons showed strong ipsilateral occurrence in the medial preoptic, ventrolateral part of the ventromedial, and ventral premammillary nuclei, sexually dimorphic regions involved in reproductive endocrine regulation. No significant lateral asymmetry was observed for other investigated hypothalamic regions. Conclusions: Unilateral amygdaloid seizures activate hypothalamic neurons that regulate reproductive endocrine secretion in a laterally asymmetric fashion. This may explain the clinical association of different reproductive endocrine disorders with left and right temporal epileptiform discharges.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)34-41
Number of pages8
JournalEpilepsia
Volume41
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

Keywords

  • Epilepsy
  • Fos
  • Hypothalamus
  • Kindling
  • Lateral asymmetry
  • Reproductive

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Lateral asymmetry in activation of hypothalamic neurons with unilateral amygdaloid seizures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this