Controlling absence seizures from the cerebellar nuclei via activation of the G(q) signaling pathway

Absence seizures (ASs) are characterized by pathological electrographic oscillations in the cerebral cortex and thalamus, which are called spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs). Subcortical structures, such as the cerebellum, may well contribute to the emergence of ASs, but the cellular and molecular underpinnings remain poorly understood. Here we show that the genetic ablation of P/Q-type calcium channels in cerebellar granule cells (quirky) or Purkinje cells (purky) leads to recurrent SWDs with the purky model showing the more severe phenotype. The quirky mouse model showed irregular action potential firing of their cerebellar nuclei (CN) neurons as well as rhythmic firing during the wave of their SWDs. The purky model also showed irregular CN firing, in addition to a reduced firing rate and rhythmicity during the spike of the SWDs. In both models, the incidence of SWDs could be decreased by increasing CN activity via activation of the G(q)-coupled designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) or via that of the G(q)-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptor 1. In contrast, the incidence of SWDs was increased by decreasing CN activity via activation of the inhibitory G(i/o)-coupled DREADD. Finally, disrupting CN rhythmic firing with a closed-loop channelrhodopsin-2 stimulation protocol confirmed that ongoing SWDs can be ceased by activating CN neurons. Together, our data highlight that P/Q-type calcium channels in cerebellar granule cells and Purkinje cells can be relevant for epileptogenesis, that G(q)-coupled activation of CN neurons can exert anti-epileptic effects and that precisely timed activation of the CN can be used to stop ongoing SWDs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00018-022-04221-5.