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Boucher-Routhier M, Thivierge JP. A deep generative adversarial network capturing complex spiral waves in disinhibited circuits of the cerebral cortex. BMC Neurosci 2023; 24:22. [PMID: 36964493 PMCID: PMC10039524 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-023-00792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the cerebral cortex, disinhibited activity is characterized by propagating waves that spread across neural tissue. In this pathological state, a widely reported form of activity are spiral waves that travel in a circular pattern around a fixed spatial locus termed the center of mass. Spiral waves exhibit stereotypical activity and involve broad patterns of co-fluctuations, suggesting that they may be of lower complexity than healthy activity. RESULTS To evaluate this hypothesis, we performed dense multi-electrode recordings of cortical networks where disinhibition was induced by perfusing a pro-epileptiform solution containing 4-Aminopyridine as well as increased potassium and decreased magnesium. Spiral waves were identified based on a spatially delimited center of mass and a broad distribution of instantaneous phases across electrodes. Individual waves were decomposed into "snapshots" that captured instantaneous neural activation across the entire network. The complexity of these snapshots was examined using a measure termed the participation ratio. Contrary to our expectations, an eigenspectrum analysis of these snapshots revealed a broad distribution of eigenvalues and an increase in complexity compared to baseline networks. A deep generative adversarial network was trained to generate novel exemplars of snapshots that closely captured cortical spiral waves. These synthetic waves replicated key features of experimental data including a tight center of mass, a broad eigenvalue distribution, spatially-dependent correlations, and a high complexity. By adjusting the input to the model, new samples were generated that deviated in systematic ways from the experimental data, thus allowing the exploration of a broad range of states from healthy to pathologically disinhibited neural networks. CONCLUSIONS Together, results show that the complexity of population activity serves as a marker along a continuum from healthy to disinhibited brain states. The proposed generative adversarial network opens avenues for replicating the dynamics of cortical seizures and accelerating the design of optimal neurostimulation aimed at suppressing pathological brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Boucher-Routhier
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 156 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Thivierge
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 156 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, 451 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
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2
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FUNDC1 Mediated Mitophagy in Epileptic Hippocampal Neuronal Injury Induced by Magnesium-Free Fluid. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:284-294. [PMID: 36094682 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03749-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Mitophagy plays a key role in epileptic neuronal injury, and recent studies have shown that FUNDC1 plays an important role in regulating mitophagy. However, the specific effect of FUNDC1 on neuronal damage in epilepsy is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of FUNDC1 in mitophagy and neuronal apoptosis using a hippocampal neuronal culture model of acquired epilepsy (AE) in vitro. We found that mitophagy levels were significantly increased in this model, as indicated by elevated LC3A/B ratios. FUNDC1 overexpression using lentiviral vectors enhanced mitophagy, whereas FUNDC1 down-regulation using lentiviral vectors impaired this process. Overexpression of FUNDC1 significantly decreased AE-induced superoxide anion, enhanced cell viability, reduced oxidative stress, and reduced neuronal apoptosis in epileptic hippocampus, while FUNDC1 down-regulation caused the opposite effect. In conclusion, we demonstrated that FUNDC1 is an important modulator of AE-induced neuronal apoptosis by controlling mitophagy function.
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Huang W, Ke Y, Zhu J, Liu S, Cong J, Ye H, Guo Y, Wang K, Zhang Z, Meng W, Gao TM, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W, Chen R. TRESK channel contributes to depolarization-induced shunting inhibition and modulates epileptic seizures. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109404. [PMID: 34289346 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission controls excitation and inhibition of postsynaptic neurons, whereas activity of ion channels modulates neuronal intrinsic excitability. However, it is unclear how excessive neuronal excitation affects intrinsic inhibition to regain homeostatic stability under physiological or pathophysiological conditions. Here, we report that a seizure-like sustained depolarization can induce short-term inhibition of hippocampal CA3 neurons via a mechanism of membrane shunting. This depolarization-induced shunting inhibition (DShI) mediates a non-synaptic, but neuronal intrinsic, short-term plasticity that is able to suppress action potential generation and postsynaptic responses by activated ionotropic receptors. We demonstrate that the TRESK channel significantly contributes to DShI. Disruption of DShI by genetic knockout of TRESK exacerbates the sensitivity and severity of epileptic seizures of mice, whereas overexpression of TRESK attenuates seizures. In summary, these results uncover a type of homeostatic intrinsic plasticity and its underlying mechanism. TRESK might represent a therapeutic target for antiepileptic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyuan Huang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Ke
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jianping Zhu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jin Cong
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hailin Ye
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yanwu Guo
- The National Key Clinic Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Kewan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhenhai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Center for Precision Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510030, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wenxiang Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tian-Ming Gao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz 55120, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz 55120, Germany.
| | - Rongqing Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; The National Key Clinic Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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4
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Dulla CG, Janigro D, Jiruska P, Raimondo JV, Ikeda A, Lin CCK, Goodkin HP, Galanopoulou AS, Bernard C, de Curtis M. How do we use in vitro models to understand epileptiform and ictal activity? A report of the TASK1-WG4 group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force. Epilepsia Open 2018; 3:460-473. [PMID: 30525115 PMCID: PMC6276782 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro brain tissue preparations allow the convenient and affordable study of brain networks and have allowed us to garner molecular, cellular, and electrophysiologic insights into brain function with a detail not achievable in vivo. Preparations from both rodent and human postsurgical tissue have been utilized to generate in vitro electrical activity similar to electrographic activity seen in patients with epilepsy. A great deal of knowledge about how brain networks generate various forms of epileptiform activity has been gained, but due to the multiple in vitro models and manipulations used, there is a need for a standardization across studies. Here, we describe epileptiform patterns generated using in vitro brain preparations, focusing on issues and best practices pertaining to recording, reporting, and interpretation of the electrophysiologic patterns observed. We also discuss criteria for defining in vitro seizure‐like patterns (i.e., ictal) and interictal discharges. Unifying terminologies and definitions are proposed. We suggest a set of best practices for reporting in vitro studies to favor both efficient across‐lab comparisons and translation to in vivo models and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris G Dulla
- Department of Neuroscience Tufts University School of Medicine Boston Massachusetts U.S.A
| | - Damir Janigro
- Flocel Inc. and Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio U.S.A
| | - Premysl Jiruska
- Department of Developmental Epileptology Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czechia
| | - Joseph V Raimondo
- Division of Cell Biology and Neuroscience Institute Department of Human Biology Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - Akio Ikeda
- Department of Epilepsy, Movement Disorders and Physiology Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto Japan
| | - Chou-Ching K Lin
- Department of Neurology National Cheng Kung University Hospital College of Medicine National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
| | - Howard P Goodkin
- The Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia U.S.A
| | - Aristea S Galanopoulou
- Laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology Isabelle Rapin Division of Child Neurology Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Einstein/Montefiore Epilepsy Center Montefiore Medical Center Bronx New York U.S.A
| | | | - Marco de Curtis
- Epilepsy Unit Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Milano Italy
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Grainger AI, King MC, Nagel DA, Parri HR, Coleman MD, Hill EJ. In vitro Models for Seizure-Liability Testing Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:590. [PMID: 30233290 PMCID: PMC6127295 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is the most complex organ in the body, controlling our highest functions, as well as regulating myriad processes which incorporate the entire physiological system. The effects of prospective therapeutic entities on the brain and central nervous system (CNS) may potentially cause significant injury, hence, CNS toxicity testing forms part of the “core battery” of safety pharmacology studies. Drug-induced seizure is a major reason for compound attrition during drug development. Currently, the rat ex vivo hippocampal slice assay is the standard option for seizure-liability studies, followed by primary rodent cultures. These models can respond to diverse agents and predict seizure outcome, yet controversy over the relevance, efficacy, and cost of these animal-based methods has led to interest in the development of human-derived models. Existing platforms often utilize rodents, and so lack human receptors and other drug targets, which may produce misleading data, with difficulties in inter-species extrapolation. Current electrophysiological approaches are typically used in a low-throughput capacity and network function may be overlooked. Human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a promising avenue for neurotoxicity testing, increasingly utilized in drug screening and disease modeling. Furthermore, the combination of iPSC-derived models with functional techniques such as multi-electrode array (MEA) analysis can provide information on neuronal network function, with increased sensitivity to neurotoxic effects which disrupt different pathways. The use of an in vitro human iPSC-derived neural model for neurotoxicity studies, combined with high-throughput techniques such as MEA recordings, could be a suitable addition to existing pre-clinical seizure-liability testing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marianne C King
- Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - David A Nagel
- Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - H Rheinallt Parri
- Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D Coleman
- Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Eric J Hill
- Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Fu Q, Sun Z, Zhang J, Gao N, Qi F, Che F, Ma G. Diazoxide preconditioning antagonizes cytotoxicity induced by epileptic seizures. Neural Regen Res 2014; 8:1000-6. [PMID: 25206393 PMCID: PMC4145886 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Diazoxide, an activator of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels, can protect neurons and astrocytes against oxidative stress and apoptosis. In this study, we established a cellular model of epilepsy by culturing hippocampal neurons in magnesium-free medium, and used this to investigate effects of diazoxide preconditioning on the expression of inwardly rectifying potassium channel (Kir) subunits of the ATP-sensitive potassium. We found that neuronal viability was significantly reduced in the epileptic cells, whereas it was enhanced by diazoxide preconditioning. Double immunofluorescence and western blot showed a significant increase in the expression of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 in epileptic cells, especially at 72 hours after seizures. Diazoxide pretreatment completely reversed this effect at 24 hours after seizures. In addition, Kir6.1 expression was significantly upregulated compared with Kir6.2 in hippocampal neurons after seizures. These findings indicate that diazoxide pretreatment may counteract epileptiform discharge-induced cytotoxicity by suppressing the expression of Kir subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxi Fu
- Department of Neurology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi 276003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhiqing Sun
- Department of Neurology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi 276003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jinling Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi 276003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Naiyong Gao
- Department of Neurology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi 276003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Faying Qi
- Department of Neurology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi 276003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Fengyuan Che
- Department of Neurology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi 276003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guozhao Ma
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China
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7
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Jung S, Bang M, Kim BS, Lee S, Kotov NA, Kim B, Jeon D. Intracellular gold nanoparticles increase neuronal excitability and aggravate seizure activity in the mouse brain. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91360. [PMID: 24625829 PMCID: PMC3953378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to their inert property, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have drawn considerable attention; their biological application has recently expanded to include nanomedicine and neuroscience. However, the effect of AuNPs on the bioelectrical properties of a single neuron remains unknown. Here we present the effect of AuNPs on a single neuron under physiological and pathological conditions in vitro. AuNPs were intracellularly applied to hippocampal CA1 neurons from the mouse brain. The electrophysiological property of CA1 neurons treated with 5- or 40-nm AuNPs was assessed using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Intracellular application of AuNPs increased both the number of action potentials (APs) and input resistance. The threshold and duration of APs and the after hyperpolarization (AHP) were decreased by the intracellular AuNPs. In addition, intracellular AuNPs elicited paroxysmal depolarizing shift-like firing patterns during sustained repetitive firings (SRF) induced by prolonged depolarization (10 sec). Furthermore, low Mg2+-induced epileptiform activity was aggravated by the intracellular AuNPs. In this study, we demonstrated that intracellular AuNPs alter the intrinsic properties of neurons toward increasing their excitability, and may have deleterious effects on neurons under pathological conditions, such as seizure. These results provide some considerable direction on application of AuNPs into central nervous system (CNS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungmoon Jung
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minji Bang
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Sun Kim
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungmun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science, Technology, and Research, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nicholas A. Kotov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Bongsoo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Daejong Jeon
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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8
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Alvarado-Martínez R, Salgado-Puga K, Peña-Ortega F. Amyloid beta inhibits olfactory bulb activity and the ability to smell. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75745. [PMID: 24086624 PMCID: PMC3784413 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early olfactory dysfunction has been consistently reported in both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in transgenic mice that reproduce some features of this disease. In AD transgenic mice, alteration in olfaction has been associated with increased levels of soluble amyloid beta protein (Aβ) as well as with alterations in the oscillatory network activity recorded in the olfactory bulb (OB) and in the piriform cortex. However, since AD is a multifactorial disease and transgenic mice suffer a variety of adaptive changes, it is still unknown if soluble Aβ, by itself, is responsible for OB dysfunction both at electrophysiological and behavioral levels. Thus, here we tested whether or not Aβ directly affects OB network activity in vitro in slices obtained from mice and rats and if it affects olfactory ability in these rodents. Our results show that Aβ decreases, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, the network activity of OB slices at clinically relevant concentrations (low nM) and in a reversible manner. Moreover, we found that intrabulbar injection of Aβ decreases the olfactory ability of rodents two weeks after application, an effect that is not related to alterations in motor performance or motivation to seek food and that correlates with the presence of Aβ deposits. Our results indicate that Aβ disrupts, at clinically relevant concentrations, the network activity of the OB in vitro and can trigger a disruption in olfaction. These findings open the possibility of exploring the cellular mechanisms involved in early pathological AD as an approach to reduce or halt its progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reynaldo Alvarado-Martínez
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Karla Salgado-Puga
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Fernando Peña-Ortega
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
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10
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The antidepressant drug fluoxetine inhibits persistent sodium currents and seizure-like events. Epilepsy Res 2012; 101:174-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2012.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2012] [Revised: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Abstract
Understanding how epileptic seizures are initiated and propagated across large brain networks is difficult, but an even greater mystery is what makes them stop. Failure of spontaneous seizure termination leads to status epilepticus-a state of uninterrupted seizure activity that can cause death or permanent brain damage. Global factors, like changes in neuromodulators and ion concentrations, are likely to play major roles in spontaneous seizure cessation, but individual neurons also have intrinsic active ion currents that may contribute. The recently discovered gene Slack encodes a sodium-activated potassium channel that mediates a major proportion of the outward current in many neurons. Although given little attention, the current flowing through this channel may have properties consistent with a role in seizure termination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajsa M Igelström
- Department of Physiology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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