Status epilepticus (SE; a seizure lasting more than 10 continuous minutes) can cause considerable damage to the brain, and, due to loss of inhibitory signals, often leads to temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) as neurons become more excitable.

Precursor cells are immature cells that haven't fully developed to perform a specific function. They are very useful in medical therapy, because, depending on their environment, they can grow into different cell types, and potentially replace cells that have been lost through damage or disease.

Researchers in Durham, USA, have been investigating whether it is possible to replace the cells damaged during SE using precursor cells, and prevent the onset of TLE. They recreated SE in rats, and four days later transferred (grafted) a set number of precursor cells from a part of the brain called the striatum, into the hippocampus (located in the temporal lobe and involved in short term memory). A comparison group of rats who had not undergone the grafting after SE was also set up. Nine months later, seizure frequency in both groups was compared, and the development of the grafted precursor cells examined.

Interestingly, the rats that had undergone cell grafts after SE had 67-89% fewer seizures nine months later, than those that had not had the procedure.

Approximately a third of the grafted cells had survived in their new location, and the vast majority of these had developed into inhibitory neurons, replacing those that had been lost during SE.

Research is still being undertaken to ascertain who might be at risk of TLE after SE, but this study shows some promising results. If the procedure can be applied to humans and the survival rate of the precursor cells increased, this could be a successful way to prevent TLE after SE, in those who are susceptible, in the future.

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