Increased Dentate Gyrus Excitability in the Intrahippocampal Kainic Acid Mouse Model for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

The intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse model is an extensively used in vivo model to investigate the pathophysiology of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) and to develop novel therapies for drug-resistant epilepsy. It is characterized by profound hippocampal sclerosis and spontaneously occurring seizures with a major role for the injected damaged hippocampus, but little is known about the excitability of specific subregions. The purpose of this study was to electrophysiologically characterize the excitability of hippocampal subregions in the chronic phase of the induced epilepsy in the IHKA mouse model.

Ex Vivo Feedback Control of Neurotransmission Using a Photocaged Adenosine A1 Receptor Agonist.

We report the design, synthesis, and validation of the novel compound photocaged N-cyclopentyladenosine (cCPA) to achieve precisely localized and timed release of the parent adenosine A1 receptor agonist CPA using 405 nm light. G protein-coupled A receptors (ARs) modulate neurotransmission via pre- and post-synaptic routes. The dynamics of the CPA-mediated effect on neurotransmission, characterized by fast activation and slow recovery, make it possible to implement a closed-loop control paradigm.

The Signaling Pathways Involved in the Anticonvulsive Effects of the Adenosine A Receptor.

Adenosine acts as an endogenous anticonvulsant and seizure terminator in the brain. Many of its anticonvulsive effects are mediated through the activation of the adenosine A receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor with a wide array of targets. Activating A receptors is an effective approach to suppress seizures.