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Chameh HM, Falby M, Movahed M, Arbabi K, Rich S, Zhang L, Lefebvre J, Tripathy SJ, De Pittà M, Valiante TA. Distinctive biophysical features of human cell-types: insights from studies of neurosurgically resected brain tissue. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1250834. [PMID: 37860223 PMCID: PMC10584155 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1250834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrophysiological characterization of live human tissue from epilepsy patients has been performed for many decades. Although initially these studies sought to understand the biophysical and synaptic changes associated with human epilepsy, recently, it has become the mainstay for exploring the distinctive biophysical and synaptic features of human cell-types. Both epochs of these human cellular electrophysiological explorations have faced criticism. Early studies revealed that cortical pyramidal neurons obtained from individuals with epilepsy appeared to function "normally" in comparison to neurons from non-epilepsy controls or neurons from other species and thus there was little to gain from the study of human neurons from epilepsy patients. On the other hand, contemporary studies are often questioned for the "normalcy" of the recorded neurons since they are derived from epilepsy patients. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the distinct biophysical features of human cortical neurons and glia obtained from tissue removed from patients with epilepsy and tumors. We then explore the concept of within cell-type diversity and its loss (i.e., "neural homogenization"). We introduce neural homogenization to help reconcile the epileptogenicity of seemingly "normal" human cortical cells and circuits. We propose that there should be continued efforts to study cortical tissue from epilepsy patients in the quest to understand what makes human cell-types "human".
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Affiliation(s)
- Homeira Moradi Chameh
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Madeleine Falby
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mandana Movahed
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Keon Arbabi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Scott Rich
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liang Zhang
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jérémie Lefebvre
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shreejoy J. Tripathy
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maurizio De Pittà
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Taufik A. Valiante
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Max Planck-University of Toronto Center for Neural Science and Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Liu H, Zhang S, Zhang L. Epileptiform activity in mouse hippocampal slices induced by moderate changes in extracellular Mg 2+, Ca 2+, and K . BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:46. [PMID: 34301200 PMCID: PMC8305515 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00650-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodent brain slices-particularly hippocampal slices-are widely used in experimental investigations of epileptiform activity. Oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) is used to maintain slices in vitro. Physiological or standard ACSF containing 3-3.5 mM K+, 1-2 mM Mg2+, and 1-3 mM Ca2+ generally does not induce population epileptiform activity, which can be induced by ACSF with high K+ (8-10 mM), low Mg2+, or low Ca2+ alone or in combination. While low-Mg2+ ACSF without intentionally added Mg salt but with contaminating Mg2+ (≤ 50-80 µM) from other salts can induce robust epileptiform activity in slices, it is unclear whether such epileptiform activity can be achieved using ACSF with moderately decreased Mg2+. To explore this issue, we examined the effects of moderately modified (m)ACSF with 0.8 mM Mg2+, 1.3 mM Ca2+, and 5.7 mM K+ on induction of epileptiform discharges in mouse hippocampal slices. RESULTS Hippocampal slices were prepared from young (21-28 days old), middle-aged (13-14 months old), and aged (24-26 months old) C57/BL6 mice. Conventional thin (0.4 mm) and thick (0.6 mm) slices were obtained using a vibratome and pretreated with mACSF at 35-36 °C for 1 h prior to recordings. During perfusion with mACSF at 35-36 °C, spontaneous or self-sustained epileptiform field potentials following high-frequency stimulation were frequently recorded in slices pretreated with mACSF but not in those without the pretreatment. Seizure-like ictal discharges were more common in thick slices than in thin slices. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged exposure to mACSF by pretreatment and subsequent perfusion can induce epileptiform field potentials in mouse hippocampal slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyu Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China.,Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sai Zhang
- Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Liang Zhang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Liu H, Tufa U, Zahra A, Chow J, Sivanenthiran N, Cheng C, Liu Y, Cheung P, Lim S, Jin Y, Mao M, Sun Y, Wu C, Wennberg R, Bardakjian B, Carlen PL, Eubanks JH, Song H, Zhang L. Electrographic Features of Spontaneous Recurrent Seizures in a Mouse Model of Extended Hippocampal Kindling. Cereb Cortex Commun 2021; 2:tgab004. [PMID: 34296153 PMCID: PMC8152854 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgab004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and comorbidities. Kindling through repetitive brief stimulation of a limbic structure is a commonly used model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Particularly, extended kindling over a period up to a few months can induce SRS, which may simulate slowly evolving epileptogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy. Currently, electroencephalographic (EEG) features of SRS in rodent models of extended kindling remain to be detailed. We explored this using a mouse model of extended hippocampal kindling. Intracranial EEG recordings were made from the kindled hippocampus and unstimulated hippocampal, neocortical, piriform, entorhinal, or thalamic area in individual mice. Spontaneous EEG discharges with concurrent low-voltage fast onsets were observed from the two corresponding areas in nearly all SRS detected, irrespective of associated motor seizures. Examined in brain slices, epileptiform discharges were induced by alkaline artificial cerebrospinal fluid in the hippocampal CA3, piriform and entorhinal cortical areas of extended kindled mice but not control mice. Together, these in vivo and in vitro observations suggest that the epileptic activity involving a macroscopic network may generate concurrent discharges in forebrain areas and initiate SRS in hippocampally kindled mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyu Liu
- Departments of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021 China.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Uilki Tufa
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H5, Canada
| | - Anya Zahra
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Jonathan Chow
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Nila Sivanenthiran
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Chloe Cheng
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Yapg Liu
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Phinehas Cheung
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Stellar Lim
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Yaozhong Jin
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Min Mao
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Yuqing Sun
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Chiping Wu
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Richard Wennberg
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M2K 1E2, Canada
| | - Berj Bardakjian
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H5, Canada
| | - Peter L Carlen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M2K 1E2, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - James H Eubanks
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Hongmei Song
- Departments of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021 China.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
| | - Liang Zhang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M2K 1E2, Canada
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Song H, Mylvaganam SM, Wang J, Mylvaganam SMK, Wu C, Carlen PL, Eubanks JH, Feng J, Zhang L. Contributions of the Hippocampal CA3 Circuitry to Acute Seizures and Hyperexcitability Responses in Mouse Models of Brain Ischemia. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:278. [PMID: 30210302 PMCID: PMC6123792 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampal circuitry is widely recognized as susceptible to ischemic injury and seizure generation. However, hippocampal contribution to acute non-convulsive seizures (NCS) in models involving middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) remains to be determined. To address this, we occluded the middle cerebral artery in adult C57 black mice and monitored electroencephalographic (EEG) discharges from hippocampal and neocortical areas. Electrographic discharges in the absence of convulsive motor behaviors were observed within 90 min following occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Hippocampal discharges were more robust than corresponding cortical discharges in all seizure events examined, and hippocampal discharges alone or with minimal cortical involvement were also observed in some seizure events. Seizure development was associated with ipsilateral hippocampal injuries as determined by subsequent histological examinations. We also introduced hypoxia-hypoglycemia episodes in mouse brain slices and examined regional hyperexcitable responses ex vivo. Extracellular recordings showed that the hippocampal CA3 region had a greater propensity for exhibiting single/multiunit activities or epileptiform field potentials following hypoxic-hypoglycemic (HH) episodes compared to the CA1, dentate gyrus, entorhinal cortical (EC) or neocortical regions. Whole-cell recordings revealed that CA3 pyramidal neurons exhibited excessive excitatory postsynaptic currents, attenuated inhibitory postsynaptic currents and intermittent or repetitive spikes in response to HH challenge. Together, these observations suggest that hippocampal discharges, possibly as a result of CA3 circuitry hyperexcitability, are a major component of acute NCS in a mouse model of MCAO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Song
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | | | - Justin Wang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Chiping Wu
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter L. Carlen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James H. Eubanks
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jiachun Feng
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Stover KR, Lim S, Zhou TL, Stafford PM, Chow J, Li H, Sivanenthiran N, Mylvaganam S, Wu C, Weaver DF, Eubanks J, Zhang L. Susceptibility to hippocampal kindling seizures is increased in aging C57 black mice. IBRO Rep 2017; 3:33-44. [PMID: 30135940 PMCID: PMC6084868 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of seizures increases with old age. Stroke, dementia and brain tumors are recognized risk factors for new-onset seizures in the aging populations and the incidence of these conditions also increased with age. Whether aging is associated with higher seizure susceptibility in the absence of the above pathologies remains unclear. We used classic kindling to explore this issue as the kindling model is highly reproducible and allows close monitoring of electrographic and motor seizure activities in individual animals. We kindled male young and aging mice (C57BL/6 strain, 2-3 and 18-22 months of age) via daily hippocampal CA3 stimulation and monitored seizure activity via video and electroencephalographic recordings. The aging mice needed fewer stimuli to evoke stage-5 motor seizures and exhibited longer hippocampal afterdischarges and more frequent hippocampal spikes relative to the young mice, but afterdischarge thresholds and cumulative afterdischarge durations to stage 5 motor seizures were not different between the two age groups. While hippocampal injury and structural alterations at cellular and micro-circuitry levels remain to be examined in the kindled mice, our present observations suggest that susceptibility to hippocampal CA3 kindling seizures is increased with aging in male C57 black mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt R. Stover
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
| | - Stellar Lim
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
| | - Terri-Lin Zhou
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
| | | | - Jonathan Chow
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
| | - Haoyuan Li
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
| | | | | | - Chiping Wu
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
| | - Donald F. Weaver
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
- Departments of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
- Departments of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - James Eubanks
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
- Departments of Surgery, University of Toronto, Canada
- University of Toronto Epilepsy Program, Canada
| | - Liang Zhang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Canada
- Departments of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
- University of Toronto Epilepsy Program, Canada
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Aging-Related Hyperexcitability in CA3 Pyramidal Neurons Is Mediated by Enhanced A-Type K+ Channel Function and Expression. J Neurosci 2015; 35:13206-18. [PMID: 26400949 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0193-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging-related impairments in hippocampus-dependent cognition have been attributed to maladaptive changes in the functional properties of pyramidal neurons within the hippocampal subregions. Much evidence has come from work on CA1 pyramidal neurons, with CA3 pyramidal neurons receiving comparatively less attention despite its age-related hyperactivation being postulated to interfere with spatial processing in the hippocampal circuit. Here, we use whole-cell current-clamp to demonstrate that aged rat (29-32 months) CA3 pyramidal neurons fire significantly more action potentials (APs) during theta-burst frequency stimulation and that this is associated with faster AP repolarization (i.e., narrower AP half-widths and enlarged fast afterhyperpolarization). Using a combination of patch-clamp physiology, pharmacology, Western blot analyses, immunohistochemistry, and array tomography, we demonstrate that these faster AP kinetics are mediated by enhanced function and expression of Kv4.2/Kv4.3 A-type K(+) channels, particularly within the perisomatic compartment, of CA3 pyramidal neurons. Thus, our study indicates that inhibition of these A-type K(+) channels can restore the intrinsic excitability properties of aged CA3 pyramidal neurons to a young-like state. Significance statement: Age-related learning deficits have been attributed, in part, to altered hippocampal pyramidal neuronal function with normal aging. Much evidence has come from work on CA1 neurons, with CA3 neurons receiving comparatively less attention despite its age-related hyperactivation being postulated to interfere with spatial processing. Hence, we conducted a series of experiments to identify the cellular mechanisms that underlie the hyperexcitability reported in the CA3 region. Contrary to CA1 neurons, we demonstrate that postburst afterhyperpolarization is not altered with aging and that aged CA3 pyramidal neurons are able to fire significantly more action potentials and that this is associated with faster action potential repolarization through enhanced expression of Kv4.2/Kv4.3 A-type K(+) channels, particularly within the cell bodies of CA3 pyramidal neurons.
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Kouvaros S, Kotzadimitriou D, Papatheodoropoulos C. Hippocampal sharp waves and ripples: Effects of aging and modulation by NMDA receptors and L-type Ca2+ channels. Neuroscience 2015; 298:26-41. [PMID: 25869622 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by a complicated pattern of changes in the brain organization and often by alterations in specific memory functions. One of the brain activities with important role in the process of memory consolidation is thought to be the hippocampus activity of sharp waves and ripple oscillation (SWRs). Using field recordings from the CA1 area of hippocampal slices we compared SWRs as well as single pyramidal cell activity between adult (3-6-month old) and old (24-34-month old) Wistar rats. The slices from old rats displayed ripple oscillation with a significantly less number of ripples and lower frequency compared with those from adult animals. However, the hippocampus from old rats had significantly higher propensity to organized SWRs in long sequences. Furthermore, the bursts recorded from complex spike cells in slices from old compared with adult rats displayed higher number of spikes and longer mean inter-spike interval. Blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors by 3-((R)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) increased the amplitude of both sharp waves and ripples and increased the interval between events of SWRs in both age groups. On the contrary, CPP reduced the probability of occurrence of sequences of SWRs more strongly in slices from adult than old rats. Blockade of L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels by nifedipine only enhanced the amplitude of sharp waves in slices from adult rats. CPP increased the postsynaptic excitability and the paired-pulse inhibition in slices from both adult and old rats similarly while nifedipine increased the postsynaptic excitability only in slices from adult rats. We propose that the tendency of the aged hippocampus to generate long sequences of SWR events might represent the consequence of homeostatic mechanisms that adaptively try to compensate the impairment in the ripple oscillation in order to maintain the behavioral outcome efficient in the old individuals. The age-dependent alterations in the firing mode of pyramidal cells might underlie to some extent the changes in ripples that occur in old animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kouvaros
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rion, Greece
| | - D Kotzadimitriou
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rion, Greece
| | - C Papatheodoropoulos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rion, Greece.
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