'Dormant' inhibitory neurons: do they exist and what is their functional impact?

Epilepsy Res. 1998 Sep;32(1-2):104-13. doi: 10.1016/s0920-1211(98)00044-8.

Abstract

The concept of dormant interneurons is proving to be hard to define precisely. We argue here that the term is best used as an operational description of interneurons which are not lost from the epileptic brain, but which fail to perform adequately. We present evidence for the existence of functionally dormant interneurons in the tetanus toxin model of chronic epilepsy, and we explore the roles of a partial dormancy (and also of charge-screening) in the acute low magnesium model of epilepsy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / pharmacology
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Baclofen / analogs & derivatives
  • Baclofen / pharmacology
  • Bicuculline / pharmacology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Epilepsy / chemically induced
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology*
  • GABA Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / physiology
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Male
  • Models, Neurological
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Pyramidal Cells / drug effects
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • Rats
  • Tetanus Toxin

Substances

  • GABA Antagonists
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione
  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate
  • Baclofen
  • 2-hydroxysaclofen
  • Bicuculline