Do astrocytes contribute to excitation underlying seizures?
Synchronous neuronal activity during seizures is thought to arise from an entirely neuronal origin. A recent study by Tian et al. suggests that by releasing glutamate, astrocytes contribute to the neuronal depolarizations underling epilepsy. Treatment of hippocampal and cortical tissue with compounds that induce seizures was shown to excite astrocytes directly through a pathway that stimulates the release of glial glutamate. Anticonvulsants reduce the activity of this non-neuronal pathway, suggesting that there is an astrocytic basis for epilepsy. Should further experimental analysis corroborate and extend this conclusion, this pathway will be a novel target for therapeutic intervention.
Fellin
Tommaso
T
Department of Neuroscience, Conte Center for Integration at the Tripartite Synapse, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Haydon
Philip G
PG
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D003292:Convulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003292:Convulsants; D018698:Glutamic Acid