"The lateral Supramammillary nucleus (SuML) - Dentate Gyrus (DG) pathway contributes to the Epileptogenic Network In Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsies "
 

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is one of the most common drug-resistant partial epilepsies in both adults and children. It is characterized by spontaneous, recurrent seizures driven by excessive and hypersynchronous neuronal discharges originating from a multi-structural epileptogenic zone. This zone involves several regions of the limbic system within the mesial temporal lobe, including the hippocampal formation (HF), entorhinal cortex (EC), and amygdala. Electroclinical observations and studies in animal models provide strong evidence that MTLE is a network disorder. The emergence of spontaneous seizures not only requires hyperactivity of principal cells within the limbic cortex but also depends on the synchronization of activity across different limbic structures of the temporal lobe. The supramammillary nucleus (SuM) is a key subcortical structure that innervates the entire limbic cortex. It plays a crucial role in regulating hippocampal theta rhythms and functions such as REM sleep, emotional learning, and memory—processes that are impaired in MTLE. In this presentation, I will explore the unique properties of this network under physiological conditions and examine the functional impact of its reorganization in rodent models of MTLE. Our multidisciplinary approach combines optogenetics and electrophysiological recordings with structural connectivity and neurochemical techniques to provide new insights into the pathophysiology of MTLE.