Deep Brain Stimulation Inhibits Epileptic Seizures via Increase of Adenosine Release and Inhibition of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 Expression

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus is an efficacious treatment option for patients with refractory epilepsy. Our previous study demonstrates that adenosine is a potential target of DBS for the treatment of epilepsy. Equilibrative nucleoside transporters-1 (ENT1) and ectonucleotidases (CD39, CD73) function as regulators of extracellular adenosine in the brain. It is unclear whether ENT1, CD39, and CD73 are involved in the mechanism of DBS for epilepsy. A total of 48 SD male rats were divided into four groups: control (naïve rats), Pilo (pilocarpine induced rats with epilepsy), DBS (rats with epilepsy treated with DBS for 8 weeks), and sham. In the present study, video electroencephalogram monitoring, Morris water maze assays, in vivo measurements of adenosine using fiber photometry, histochemistry, and western blot were performed on the hippocampus. DBS markedly attenuated spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs) and enhanced spatial learning in rats with epilepsy, assessed through video-EEG and water maze assays. Fibred photometry measurements of an adenosine sensor revealed dynamic increase in extracellular adenosine during DBS. The expressions of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 in Pilo group and sham group increased compared with the control group, while the expressions of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 in DBS group decreased compared to that of Pilo group and sham group. The findings indicate that DBS reduces the number of SRSs and improves spatial memory in rats with epilepsy with concomitant decrease of ENT1, CD39, and CD73 expressions. Adenosine-modulating enzymes might be the potential targets of DBS for the treatment of epilepsy.