Febrile seizures in the developing brain result in persistent modification of neuronal excitability in limbic circuits.
Febrile (fever-induced) seizures affect 3-5% of infants and young children. Despite the high incidence of febrile seizures, their contribution to the development of epilepsy later in life has remained controversial. Combining a new rat model of complex febrile seizures and patch clamp techniques, we determined that hyperthermia-induced seizures in the immature rat cause a selective presynaptic increase in inhibitory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus that lasts into adulthood. The long-lasting nature of these potent alterations in synaptic communication after febrile seizures does not support the prevalent view of the 'benign' nature of early-life febrile convulsions.
Chen
K
K
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine 92697-1280, USA.
Baram
T Z
TZ
Soltesz
I
I
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases