title: Axonal gap junctions between principal neurons: a novel source of network oscillations, and perhaps epileptogenesis.
abstract: We hypothesized in 1998 that gap junctions might be located between the axons of principal hippocampal neurons, based on the shape of spikelets (fast prepotentials), occurring during gap junction-mediated very fast (to approximately 200 Hz) network oscillations in vitro. More recent electrophysiological, pharmacological and dye-coupling data indicate that axonal gap junctions exist; so far, they appear to be located about 100 microm from the soma, in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Computer modeling and theory predict that axonal gap junctions can lead to very fast network oscillations under three conditions: a) there are spontaneous axonal action potentials; b) the number of gap junctions in the network is neither too low (not less than to approximately 1.5 per cell on average), nor too high (not more than to approximately 3 per cell on average); c) action potentials can cross from axon to axon via gap junctions. Simulated oscillations resemble biological ones, but condition (c) remains to be demonstrated directly. Axonal network oscillations can, in turn, induce oscillatory activity in larger neuronal networks, by a variety of mechanisms. Axonal networks appear to underlie in vivo ripples (to approximately 200 Hz field potential oscillations superimposed on physiological sharp waves), to drive gamma (30-70 Hz) oscillations that appear in the presence of carbachol, and to initiate certain types of ictal discharge. If axonal gap junctions are important for seizure initiation in humans, there could be practical consequences for antiepileptic therapy: at least one gap junction-blocking compound, carbenoxolone, is already in clinical use (for treatment of ulcer disease), and it crosses the blood-brain barrier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn 11203, USA. roger.traub@downstate.edu
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Traub
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Draguhn
authors.forename: Miles A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Whittington
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baldeweg
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bibbig
authors.forename: Eberhard H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Buhl
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007395:Interneurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008744:Methylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009415:Nerve Net; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D008744:Methylamines; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; C023336:trimethylamine; D002229:Carbenoxolone; D002118:Calcium