An Investigation of Connectivity Between the Cerebellar Vermis and CA3 of the Hippocampus
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) affects millions worldwide, but treatment options are severely lacking, leaving many with uncontrolled seizures. The vast majority of TLE seizures originate in the hippocampus, making the hippocampus an attractive target for new seizure suppression techniques. It has been documented that stimulating the cerebellar vermis can stop spontaneous hippocampal seizure activity, and this along with other evidence suggests novel, multisynaptic connectivity extending from the cerebellum to the hippocampus. Through the use of optogenetics, immunohistochemistry, and microscopic image analysis, this research investigated cerebellar influence over CA3 of the hippocampus following stimulation of the cerebellar vermis. Though not at a statistically significant level, data trends support previous research and suggest that cerebellar influence increases neuronal activation in certain layers of CA3 of the hippocampus. Further research is necessary to determine the anatomy underlying this connectivity. Nevertheless, understanding the physiology that allows the cerebellum to affect the hippocampus will be relevant for the development of new therapies and treatments for those suffering from TLE worldwide.