title: Cellular mechanisms of cobalt-induced hippocampal epileptiform discharges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the cellular mechanisms of cobalt-induced epileptiform discharges in mouse hippocampal slices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hippocampal slices were prepared from adult mice and briefly exposed to a CoCl(2)-containing external solution. Population and single cell activities were examined via extracellular and whole-cell patch recordings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brief cobalt exposure induced spontaneous, ictal-like discharges originating from the CA3 area. These discharges were suppressed by anticonvulsants, gap junction blockers, or by raising extracellular Ca(2+), but their generation was not associated with overall hyperexcitability or impairment in GABAergic inhibition in the CA3 circuit. Electroencephalographic ictal discharges of similar waveforms were observed in behaving rats following intrahippocampal cobalt infusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mechanisms involving activity-dependent facilitation of gap junctional communication may play a major role in cobalt-induced epileptiform discharges.
authors: Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors: Jiwei
authors: J
authors: He
authors: Hwa-Lin
authors: HL
authors: Hsiang
authors: Chiping
authors: C
authors: Wu
authors: Shanthini
authors: S
authors: Mylvagnanam
authors: Peter L
authors: PL
authors: Carlen
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018079:Receptors, GABA; D003035:Cobalt; C018021:cobaltous chloride