Abstract
Febrile (fever-induced) seizures affect 3-5% of infants and young children. Despite the high incidence of febrile seizures, their contribution to the development of epilepsy later in life has remained controversial. Combining a new rat model of complex febrile seizures and patch clamp techniques, we determined that hyperthermia-induced seizures in the immature rat cause a selective presynaptic increase in inhibitory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus that lasts into adulthood. The long-lasting nature of these potent alterations in synaptic communication after febrile seizures does not support the prevalent view of the 'benign' nature of early-life febrile convulsions.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Brain / growth & development
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Brain / physiopathology*
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Culture Techniques
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Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
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Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Evoked Potentials / drug effects
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Evoked Potentials / physiology
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Hypothalamus / physiology
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Limbic System / physiopathology*
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Neural Inhibition / drug effects
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Neural Inhibition / physiology
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Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Presynaptic Terminals / physiology
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Pyramidal Cells / physiology*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Seizures, Febrile / physiopathology*
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Synaptic Transmission / physiology
Substances
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases