title: Plasticity of Hippocampal Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance: Missing the Synaptic Control in the Epileptic Brain.
abstract: Synaptic plasticity is the capacity generated by experience to modify the neural function and, thereby, adapt our behaviour. Long-term plasticity of glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission occurs in a concerted manner, finely adjusting the excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) balance. Imbalances of E/I function are related to several neurological diseases including epilepsy. Several evidences have demonstrated that astrocytes are able to control the synaptic plasticity, with astrocytes being active partners in synaptic physiology and E/I balance. Here, we revise molecular evidences showing the epileptic stage as an abnormal form of long-term brain plasticity and propose the possible participation of astrocytes to the abnormal increase of glutamatergic and decrease of GABAergic neurotransmission in epileptic networks.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurobiología y Plasticidad Cerebral (CNPC), Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Gran Bretaña Avenida 1111, 2360102 Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonansco
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurobiología y Plasticidad Cerebral (CNPC), Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Gran Bretaña Avenida 1111, 2360102 Valparaíso, Chile; Núcleo Milenio en Biología de Enfermedades Neurosiquiátricas, Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Gran Bretaña Avenida 1111, 2360102 Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuenzalida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid