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Pyramidal cell responses to γ‐aminobutyric acid differ in type I and type II cortical dysplasia
Author(s) -
André Véronique M.,
Cepeda Carlos,
Vinters Harry V.,
Huynh My,
Mathern Gary W.,
Levine Michael S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.21752
Subject(s) - gabaergic , cortical dysplasia , glutamate decarboxylase , gamma aminobutyric acid , chemistry , pyramidal cell , biology , gabaa receptor , receptor , endocrinology , medicine , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , epilepsy , neuroscience , biochemistry , hippocampus , enzyme
Abnormalities in the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ergic system could be responsible for seizures in cortical dysplasia (CD). We examined responses of pyramidal neurons to exogenous application of GABA, as well as alterations of GABAergic interneuron number and size in pediatric epilepsy surgery patients with non‐CD, type I CD, and type II CD pathologies. We used the dissociated cell preparation for electrophysiology along with immunohistochemistry to identify number and size of GABAergic cells. Pyramidal neurons from type I CD tissue showed increased EC 50 and faster kinetics compared with cells from non‐CD and type II CD tissue. Cytomegalic pyramidal neurons showed increased GABA peak currents and decreased peak current densities, longer kinetics, and decreased sensitivity to zolpidem and zinc compared with normal pyramidal cells from non‐CD and type I CD. There were fewer but larger glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)‐containing cells in type II CD tissue with cytomegalic neurons compared with non‐CD, type I CD, and type II CD without cytomegalic neurons. In addition, GABA transporters (VGAT and GAT‐1) showed increased staining surrounding cytomegalic neurons in type II CD tissue. These results indicate that there are differences in GABA A receptor‐mediated pyramidal cell responses in type I and type II CD. Alterations in zolpidem and zinc sensitivities also suggest that cytomegalic neurons have altered GABA A receptor subunit composition. These findings support the hypothesis that patients with type I and type II CD will respond differently to GABA‐mediated antiepileptic drugs and that cytomegalic neurons have features similar to immature neurons with prolonged GABA A receptor open channel times. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.