Kappa opioid receptors regulate hippocampal synaptic homeostasis and epileptogenesis

• Published in: Epilepsia (Copenhagen) 2018-01, Vol.59 (1), p.106-122
• Main Authors: Queenan, Bridget N., Dunn, Raymond L., Santos, Victor R., Feng, Yang, Huizenga, Megan N., Hammack, Robert J., Vicini, Stefano, Forcelli, Patrick A., Pak, Daniel T. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amygdala; Animal models; Animals; CA3; Cell culture; Cells, Cultured; Central nervous system; Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology; Convulsants - toxicity; Dentate gyrus; Disease Models, Animal; Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryo, Mammalian; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - etiology; Epilepsy - metabolism; Epilepsy - pathology; Granule cells; Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; Hippocampal plasticity; Hippocampus; Hippocampus - pathology; Homeostasis; Homeostatic plasticity; homeostatic synaptic plasticity; kappa opioid receptors; Kindling; Kindling, Neurologic - drug effects; Kindling, Neurologic - physiology; Male; medial temporal lobe epilepsy; Mice; mossy fiber; Mossy fibers; Narcotic Antagonists - pharmacology; Narcotics; Narcotics - pharmacology; Neurons - classification; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Opioid receptors (type kappa); Pentylenetetrazole; Pentylenetetrazole - toxicity; Picrotoxin - pharmacology; Pyramidal cells; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Receptors, Opioid, kappa - metabolism; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Rodents; Seizures; Synapses - drug effects; Synapses - physiology; Synaptic plasticity; Synaptophysin - metabolism; Tetrodotoxin - pharmacology; Transfection; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0013-9580; 1528-1167
• DOI: 10.1111/epi.13941

Summary Objective Homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) serves as a gain control mechanism at central nervous system (CNS) synapses, including those between the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3. Improper circuit control of DG‐CA3 synapses is hypothesized to underlie epileptogenesis. Here, we sought to (1) identify compounds that preferentially modulate DG‐CA3 synapses in primary neuronal culture and (2) determine if these compounds would delay or prevent epileptogenesis in vivo. Methods We previously developed and validated an in vitro assay to visualize the behavior of DG‐CA3 synapses and predict functional changes. We used this “synapse‐on‐chip” assay (quantification of synapse size, number, and type using immunocytochemical markers) to dissect the mechanisms of HSP at DG‐CA3 synapses. Using chemogenetic constructs and pharmacological agents we determined the signaling cascades necessary for gain control at DG‐CA3 synapses. Finally, we tested the implicated cascades (using kappa opioid receptor (OR) agonists and antagonists) in two models of epileptogenesis: electrical amygdala kindling in the mouse and chemical (pentylenetetrazole) kindling in the rat. Results In vitro, synapses between DG mossy fibers (MFs) and CA3 neurons are the primary homeostatic responders during sustained periods of activity change. Kappa OR signaling is both necessary and sufficient for the homeostatic elaboration of DG‐CA3 synapses, induced by presynaptic DG activity levels. Blocking kappa OR signaling in vivo attenuates the development of seizures in both mouse and rat models of epilepsy. Significance This study elucidates mechanisms by which synapses between DG granule cells and CA3 pyramidal neurons undergo activity‐dependent homeostatic compensation, via OR signaling in vitro. Modulation of kappa OR signaling in vivo alters seizure progression, suggesting that breakdown of homeostatic closed‐loop control at DG‐CA3 synapses contributes to seizures, and that targeting endogenous homeostatic mechanisms at DG‐CA3 synapses may prove useful in combating epileptogenesis.