Pro-epileptic effect of alfentanil in rats subjected to pilocarpine-induced chronic epilepsy.

Pharmacological induction of epileptiform activity is a complementary method to study the epileptogenic area in drug-resistant epileptic patients. Among the different activation methods, fentanyl derivatives (e.g.

Physical training reverts hippocampal electrophysiological changes in rats submitted to the pilocarpine model of epilepsy.

Physical exercise and fitness programs in patients with epilepsy are still a matter of controversy. Effects of physical exercise in animals with epilepsy have been demonstrated. To further investigate the possible mechanisms by which physical activity interferes with epileptogenesis, the present work was aimed to study the effect of aerobic exercise on "in vitro" hippocampal electrophysiological parameters observed in rats submitted to the pilocarpine model of epilepsy.

Low ethanol concentrations selectively augment the tonic inhibition mediated by delta subunit-containing GABAA receptors in hippocampal neurons.

In central neurons, a tonic conductance is activated by ambient levels of the inhibitory transmitter GABA. Here, we show that in dentate gyrus granule cells, where tonic inhibition is mediated by delta subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors, this conductance is augmented by low concentrations (30 mM) of ethanol. In contrast, the tonic inhibition mediated by alpha5 subunit-containing receptors of CA1 pyramidal cells is not affected.

Protective effect of ifenprodil against spreading depression in the mouse entorhinal cortex.

In the brain, spreading depression (SD) is characterized by a large extracellular DC shift, a massive failure of ion homeostasis and a transient cessation of neuronal function. Clinically, SD is believed to be involved in various neurological disorders including migraine and cerebrovascular diseases. The propagation of cortical SD requires the release of glutamate, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play a crucial role in this process.