Samuel I Shin
Tanzania
Research Article
Connexin-36 Knock-Out Mice have Increased Threshold for Kindled Seizures: Role of GABA Inhibition
Author(s): Samuel I Shin, Dallin J Andersen, Micah Hansen D, Jordan T Yorgason, Nathan D Schilaty, David D Busath and Scott C SteffensenSamuel I Shin, Dallin J Andersen, Micah Hansen D, Jordan T Yorgason, Nathan D Schilaty, David D Busath and Scott C Steffensen
Blockade of gap junctions (GJs) has been shown to reduce seizures in different epilepsy models. Gap junction mediated, electrically-coupled neuronal networks have been implicated in neuronal synchronization, which is the hallmark of seizure activity. To further understand the role of GJs in seizures, in particular hippocampal seizures, we evaluated electrophysiological responses in the dentate gyrus subfield of the hippocampus, including GABA-mediated recurrent inhibition, seizuregenic stimulation, and seizure activity in response to perforant path kindling in Cx36 knockout (KO) mice compared to wild-type (WT) controls. In anesthetized mice, Cx36 KO mice were characterized by enhanced GABA-mediated recurrent inhibition. Stimulation of the perforant path at 10 Hz for 10 sec (i.e., 100 pulses) markedly enhanced population spike (PS) amplitudes and reduced paired-pulse GABA-mediated inhi.. View More»