Astrocytic Atrophy Following Parallels Reduced Ca Activity and Impaired Synaptic Plasticity in the Rat Hippocampus.

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders commonly associated with the neuronal malfunction leading to generation of seizures. Recent reports point to a possible contribution of astrocytes into this pathology. We used the lithium-pilocarpine model of (SE) in rats to monitor changes in astrocytes.

Activity-dependent changes in transporter and potassium currents in hippocampal astrocytes.

Astrocytes are involved in maintenance of synaptic microenvironment by glutamate uptake and K clearance. These processes are associated with net charge transfer across the membrane and therefore can be recorded as glutamate transporter (I) and K (I) currents. It has been previously shown that the blockade of I with BaCl enhances the I.