Epilepsies affect at least 2% of the population at some time in life, and many forms have
genetic determinants 1 , 2 . We have found a mutation in a gene encoding a GABA A receptor …

Recent findings from studies of two families have shown that mutations in the GABA A -receptor
γ2 subunit are associated with generalized epilepsies and febrile seizures. Here we …

Astrocytes display excitability in the form of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i )
increases, but the signaling impact of these for neurons remains debated and controversial. A …

We investigated the role of extracellular ATP at astrocytes and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons
in the stratum radiatum area of the mouse hippocampus. We show that exogenously …

Brain astrocytes signal to each other and neurons. They use changes in their intracellular
calcium levels to trigger release of transmitters into the extracellular space. These can then …

Proteins and peptides that form membrane-spanning pores and channels comprise a
diverse class of molecules ranging from short peptides that are unregulated and create …

Severe disruption of mitochondrial function is generally considered to provide a powerful
trigger for apoptosis in mammalian cells. We report here that intact cells may undergo the …

Transmitters such as glutamate and ATP are released from brain astrocytes. Several
pathways for their release have been proposed, including exocytosis. In the present study we …

We report that chloromethyl-X-rosamine (MitoTracker Red), a mitochondrion-selective fluorescent
probe, has a strong photosensitising action. Photoirradiation of intact cells loaded with …

The γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A ) receptor mediates fast inhibitory synaptic transmission
in the CNS. Dysfunction of the GABA A receptor would be expected to cause neuronal …