Premium
Epileptiform synchronization in the rat insular and perirhinal cortices in vitro
Author(s) -
Sudbury Jessica R.,
Avoli Massimo
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05962.x
Subject(s) - perirhinal cortex , neuroscience , insular cortex , glutamatergic , gabaergic , ictal , temporal lobe , ionotropic effect , psychology , hippocampus , epilepsy , glutamate receptor , medicine , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , receptor
Abstract The hippocampus plays a primary role in temporal lobe epilepsy, a common form of partial epilepsy in adults. Recent studies, however, indicate that extrahippocampal areas such as the perirhinal and insular cortices represent important participants in this epileptic disorder. By employing field potential recordings in the in vitro 4‐aminopyridine model of temporal lobe epilepsy, we have investigated here the contribution of glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling to epileptiform activity in these structures. First, we provide evidence of epileptiform synchronicity between the perirhinal and insular cortices, and resolve some pharmacological and network mechanisms involved in sustaining the interictal‐ and ictal‐like discharges recorded there. Second, we report that in the absence of ionotropic glutamatergic transmission, GABAergic networks produce synchronous potentials that spread between the perirhinal and insular cortices. Finally, we have established that such activity is modulated by activating µ‐opioid receptors. Our findings support clinical and experimental evidence concerning the involvement of the perirhinal and insular cortex networks in temporal lobe epilepsy, and provide observations that may impact research focussing on the role of the insular cortex in nociception.