Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors and Epileptogenesis.
Activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) often produces long-lasting effects on the excitability of cortical neurons. For example, mGluR stimulation induces long-term potentiation or depression of excitatory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. Similarly, the effects of mGluRs on cortical epileptiform activities also are enduring. A transient application of group I mGluR agonists to hippocampal slices produces ictal-like discharges that persist for hours after the removal of the applied agonist. This action of group I mGluRs-transforming "normal" hippocampal slice into an "epileptic-like" one-may represent a form of epileptogenesis. The advent of such a model, in which epileptogenesis can be reliably induced in an in vitro preparation and the process is complete within hours, may facilitate the exploration of cellular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis.
Department of Physiology/Pharmacology and Department of Neurology, State University of New York-Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York.
Robert K. S.
RK
Wong
Shih-Chieh
SC
Chuang
Riccardo
R
Bianchi