Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39937353›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia2025

Chronic optogenetic stimulation of dentate gyrus granule cells in mouse organotypic slice cultures synaptically drives mossy cell degeneration.

Carolin Christina Koretz, Rebecca Schneider, Tassilo Jungenitz, Alexander Drakew, Jochen Roeper, Thomas Deller

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Carolin Christina KoretzInstitute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Dr. Senckenberg Anatomy, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6405-5514
Rebecca SchneiderInstitute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Dr. Senckenberg Anatomy, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Tassilo JungenitzInstitute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Dr. Senckenberg Anatomy, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Alexander DrakewInstitute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Dr. Senckenberg Anatomy, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Jochen RoeperInstitute of Neurophysiology, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Thomas DellerInstitute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Dr. Senckenberg Anatomy, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3931-2947

Funding

International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neural Circuits, FrankfurtLOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDegeneration of hilar mossy cells in the dentate gyrus is an important hallmark of hippocampal sclerosis and is often observed in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. To understand the pathogenesis of hippocampal sclerosis and develop novel neuroprotective treatments, it is critical to determine the mechanistic processes of mossy cell degeneration and factors that influence cell vulnerability or resilience. However, suitable in vitro approaches are currently lacking. We have developed and validated an organotypic slice culture-based in vitro model that facilitates mechanistic studies of activity-dependent mossy cell vulnerability and resilience.

methodsA model was developed using entorhino-hippocampal slice cultures. Dentate gyrus granule cells were transduced with adeno-associated viruses to express channelrhodopsin2. Transduced cultures were chronically stimulated by light, and resulting cell damage was assessed by propidium iodide staining. Spontaneous synaptic activity before and after optical stimulation was recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp.

resultsSelective and dose-dependent hilar neuron degeneration was observed following chronic optogenetic stimulation of organotypic slice cultures expressing channelrhodopsin-2 in granule cells. Treatment with the anticonvulsant retigabine reduced stimulation-induced hilar neuron loss in a dose-dependent manner. This demonstrates the suitability of our optogenetic in vitro model for drug screening. Patch-clamp recordings verified strong synaptic activation of mossy cells during optical stimulation and a reduction in spontaneous excitatory synaptic activity after stimulation. SIGNIFICANCE: The role of mossy cells in the context of epileptic seizures has been a controversial topic of discussion. The presented in vitro model allows the study of mossy cell vulnerability on a single-cell level and provides the first evidence for changes in synaptic activity after stimulation. This model will facilitate our mechanistic understanding of temporal lobe epilepsy, providing a foundation for novel therapeutic interventions aimed at preserving mossy cell function in epilepsy patients.

Indexed as

Dentate GyrusMossy Fibers, HippocampalNerve DegenerationNeuronsOptogeneticsSynapsesAnimalsChannelrhodopsinsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLOrgan Culture TechniquesPatch-Clamp TechniquesChannelrhodopsinschannelrhodopsin‐2excitotoxicitypatch‐clampretigabinetemporal lobe epilepsy

Identifiers

PMID39937353
PMCPMC12097467

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.