Intrahippocampal infusion of botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNT/E) reduces spontaneous recurrent seizures in a mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is one of the most common forms of human epilepsy, and it is often resistant to conventional antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Here we tested whether a single intrahippocampal administration of the synaptic blocker botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNT/E) is effective in reducing spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) in a mouse model of MTLE. Unilateral intrahippocampal injection of kainic acid (KA) in mice was used as a model of MTLE. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of SRS were performed during the chronic phase of epilepsy, before and after administration of either BoNT/E or vehicle. Frequency of SRS was significantly decreased for at least 5 days following BoNT/E, but not vehicle, infusion. Our findings demonstrate that BoNT/E can effectively reduce seizure incidence in a mouse model of MTLE.