On the origin of interictal activity in human temporal lobe epilepsy in vitro

Science. 2002 Nov 15;298(5597):1418-21. doi: 10.1126/science.1076510.

Abstract

The origin and mechanisms of human interictal epileptic discharges remain unclear. Here, we describe a spontaneous, rhythmic activity initiated in the subiculum of slices from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Synchronous events were similar to interictal discharges of patient electroencephalograms. They were suppressed by antagonists of either glutamatergic or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic signaling. The network of neurons discharging during population events comprises both subicular interneurons and a subgroup of pyramidal cells. In these pyramidal cells, GABAergic synaptic events reversed at depolarized potentials. Depolarizing GABAergic responses in neurons downstream to the sclerotic CA1 region contribute to human interictal activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials
  • Adult
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Microelectrodes
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Fibers / physiology
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Temporal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Glutamic Acid
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid