Potassium-induced changes in excitability in the hippocampal CA1 region of immature and adult rats.
Orthodromic and spontaneous population spike activity was measured in vitro in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices to determine maturational differences in excitability and susceptibility to K(+)-induced seizures. Several indices of excitability in the CA1 region changed in a non-monotonic fashion during maturation, in response to step-wise increases in bath [K+]. Slices from rats 18-22 days old, showed a greater probability of both spontaneous epileptiform activity and episodes of seizure-like activity followed by spreading depression, and more prolonged durations of evoked seizure-like events. Elevation of [K+] in the bathing medium increased these indices in a similar manner in older rats but not to the same degree as in 18- to 22-day-old rats. However, the threshold level of bath [K+] resulting in evoked bursts of population spikes was lower in adult and 28- to 32-day-old rats than in 18- to 22-day-old rats, suggesting that excitability is not uniformly greater at any given age. In 10- to 15-day-old rats, elevation of bath [K+] either produced persistent blockade of population responses, or increased the amplitude of the initial population spike, without producing bursts. Basal levels of [K+] in the interstitium of the slices corresponded to the various levels of [K+] placed in the bathing medium and there were no differences among age groups. Therefore, differences in basal [K+]o cannot account for the maturational changes in excitability and seizure activity. The period from 18-22 days of age in the rat is a useful focal point for investigating mechanisms underlying maturational changes in propensity to develop seizures.
Kreisman
N R
NR
Department of Physiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699.
Smith
M L
ML
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*
D011188:Potassium