Focal brain cooling terminates the faster frequency components of epileptic discharges induced by penicillin G in anesthetized rats.
The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of focal brain cooling on epileptic discharges (EDs) and background rhythms in the sensorimotor cortex of anesthetized rats using spectral analysis of electroencephalography (EEG). Penicillin G was administered intracortically into superficial layers of the left sensorimotor cortex and EDs were induced. Focal brain cooling was achieved using a cooling device attached to the cortical surface. The cortical surface was cooled to 25°C, 20°C and 15°C, and EEG was continuously recorded just beneath the cooling device. EEG spectral powers were determined using fast Fourier transform before and during cooling. Penicillin G induced EDs and increased the Alpha and Beta power spectra. Cooling suppressed EDs with an effect that depended on the brain temperature. Cooling to 25°C attenuated Beta powers, cooling to 20°C attenuated Alpha and Beta powers, and cooling to 15°C suppressed spectral powers ranging from Delta to Beta bands. These results suggest that focal brain cooling can terminate EDs in the cortex and suppress spectral powers with a temperature-dependent effect. These findings may contribute to development of a new clinical treatment for patients with epilepsy.