Restoring failed inhibition in the substantia nigra pars reticulata suppresses absence seizures in rats

Objective
For over four decades, the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) has been recognized as a critical structure in the modulation of seizure activity. Pharmacological and optogenetic inhibition of the SNr produce robust seizure suppression in a range of seizure models. These findings have given rise to a longstanding, yet unresolved question: do seizures involve a failure of inhibition within the SNr?
Methods
We recorded single-unit activity in the SNr during spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) in male and female WAG/Rij rats, a model of genetic absence epilepsy. We monitored extracellular GABA levels using intensity-based GABA sensing fluorescence reporter (iGABASnFR). To emphasize the multi-modal efficacy of SNr inhibition on seizure suppression, we optogenetically inhibited the SNr.
Results
50% of recorded neurons exhibited a marked increase in firing at SWD onset, with activity returning to baseline at SWD termination. Extracellular GABA levels revealed a decrease in fluorescen..., , # Data from: Restoring failed inhibition in the substantia nigra pars reticulata suppresses absence seizures in rats

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.66t1g1kds](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.66t1g1kds)

## Description of the data and file structure

#### File: SNr.Optogenetics.zip

**Description:** A zip archive with folders containing European Data Format (EDF) electroencephalography (EEG) files for each test session for each subject, organized by virus. Files show a full baseline, 100Hz Open Loop or 100Hz Closed Loop session for each animal with electrographic activity recorded from cortical EEG and stimulator feedback (when relevant)showing the timing of light delivery and closed loop macro seizure detection (when relevant).

Data are organized into two separate folders based on virus used.

* “GFP.Control” are recordings from animals injected with a control AAV virus expressing green fluorescent protein but no opsin.
* “ArchT” are recordings from animals injected with AAV coding for arc...,