Ultrastructure of Spike Focus of Temporal Lobe Cortexes and Hippocampus in Patients with Protopathic Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Objective To observe the pathology in temporal lobe cortexes and hippocampus in protopathic intractable temporal lobe epileptics.Methods The cortexes of spike foci in temporal lobe and hippocampus were obtained from 9 cases with protopathic intractable temporal lobe epilepsy who accepted operation.The samples were observed under the transmission electron microscope.Results The ultrastructure changes in spike focus of temporal lobe cortexes are similar to those in hippocampus.It is common that neurons were pycnotic and decreased.Astrocytes were hydropic and degenerative.Gliosis were found in some cases.The number of synapses increased or decreased in different cases and positions.Blood-brain barriers were destroyed because foot processes of astrocytes around capillaries were edematous.Conclusion Neuronal loss,gliosis and synaptic reorganization which occur in epileptic hippocampus and maybe also in epileptic temporal lobe cortexes destroy the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission.The abnormalities probably associate with protopathic intractable temporal lobe epileptic seizures.