Short-term deep brain stimulation of the thalamic reticular nucleus modifies aberrant oscillatory activity in a neurodevelopment model of schizophrenia

Abstract Dysfunction of thalamo-cortical networks involving particularly the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is implicated in schizophrenia. In the neonatal ventral hippocampal lesion (NVHL), a heuristic animal model of schizophrenia, brain oscillation changes similar to those of schizophrenic patients have been reported. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of short-term deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the thalamic reticular nucleus on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in the NVHL. Male and female Sprague–Dawley rats were used and the model was prepared by excitotoxicity damage of the ventral hippocampus on postnatal day 7 (PD-7). Chronic bilateral stainless steel electrodes were implanted in the TRN, thalamic dorsomedial nucleus and prelimbic area at PD-90. Rats were classified as follows: sham and NVHL groups, both groups received bilateral DBS in the TRN for one hour (100 Hz, 100 µs pulses, 200 µA). All animals showed a sudden behavioral arrest accompanied by widespread symmetric bilateral spike–wave discharges, this activity was affected by DBS-TRN. Additionally, the power spectra of 0.5–100 Hz and the coherence of 0.5–4.5 and 35–55 Hz frequencies were modified by DBS-TRN. Our results suggest that DBS in the TRN may modify functional connectivity between different parts of the thalamo-cortical network. Additionally, our findings may suggest a beneficial effect of DBS-TRN on some preclinical aberrant oscillatory activities in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia.