• SCN1A is a gene encoding a voltage-gated sodium channel subunit, which is crucial for neuronal signaling. Mutations in SCN1A are associated with various epilepsy syndromes and these mutations primarily affect the inhibitory interneurons, leading to decreased inhibition and increased seizure susceptibility.
• The genome sequences between exon 3 and exon 27 were depleted in B-Scn1a KO mice(B6J129S2F1), leading to the disruption of mouse Scn1a gene.
• Scn1a heterozygous knockout mice maintained on the 129S2/SvPasCrl background display no overt signs of disease or seizure phenotypes. By contrast, when these mice are crossed with wild-type C57BL/6J mice, the resulting hybrid offspring spontaneously develop epileptic phenotypes. And the survival rate of these hybrid heterozygous mice is about 40% at one month of age. Hybrid heterozygous mice experience electrographic seizures, with both the duration and frequency of seizures increasing with age.
• This mouse strain is an epilepsy model, which can be used for the study of the mechanisms underlying epileptic seizures, as well as for the validation of the efficacy of therapeutic agents.

Gene targeting strategy for B-Scn1a KO mice(B6J129S2F1). The genome sequences between exon 3 and exon 27 were depleted in B-Scn1a KO mice(B6J129S2F1), leading to the disruption of mouse Scn1a gene.

Heterozygous B-Scn1a KO mice(B6J129S2F1) showed premature death. The percent of survival of each genotype is plotted versus postnatal day. Heterozygous B-Scn1a KO mice(B6129S2F1) (n=33) died prematurely compared with littermate control mice, with initial deaths beginning at postnatal day 19, and approximately 40% of animals remaining at postnatal day 45.

Heterozygous B-Scn1a KO mice(B6J129S2F1) experienced electrographic seizures. A. Schematic diagram of different levels of seizure severity. B. Representative EEG traces during seizures. EEG recordings were obtained from five mice, capturing abnormal brain activity at both 7 and 12-week old. Each recording session lasted for 2 hours, during which both EEG and video recordings were simultaneously obtained. C. Statistics on the frequency and total duration of seizures in 2 hours recording. The mice exhibited spontaneous epileptic symptoms, and both the duration and frequency of seizures increased with age.

Note: This experiment was completed by our collaborating partner, PharmaLegacy Laboratories in Shanghai.