Early hippocampal high-amplitude rhythmic spikes predict post-traumatic epilepsy in mice

Oscillations, a highly conserved brain function across mammalian species, play a pivotal role in both brain physiology and pathology. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently results in subacute and chronic alterations in brain oscillations, which are often associated with complications like post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) in patients and animal models. We recently conducted longitudinal recordings of local field potential from the contralateral hippocampus of 12 strains of recombinant inbred Collaborative Cross (CC) mice and classical laboratory inbred C57BL/6 J mice after lateral fluid percussion injury. In this study, we profiled the acute (<12 h post-injury) and subacute (12-48 h post-injury) hippocampal oscillatory responses to TBI and evaluated their predictive value for PTE. We found dynamic high-amplitude rhythmic spikes with elevated power density and reduced signal complexity that prevailed exclusively during the acute phase in CC031 mice, which later developed PTE. This characteristic early brain oscillatory alteration was absent in CC031 sham controls, as well as in other CC strains and reference C57BL/6 J mice that did not develop PTE after TBI. Our findings offer quantitative measures linking early hippocampal brain oscillation to PTE at a population level in mice. These insights enhance understanding of circuit mechanisms and suggest potential targets for neuromodulatory intervention.