Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
10:10
Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes
Published on: October 4, 2018
Neuron-astrocyte signaling and epilepsy.
Gerald Seifert1, Christian Steinhäuser
1Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
Experimental Neurology
|September 20, 2011
Summary
Dysfunctional astrocytes play a key role in epilepsy by impairing potassium buffering and glutamate transport. Targeting these astrocyte dysfunctions offers potential new therapeutic strategies for epilepsy treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Astrocytes are glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that respond to neuronal activity.
- They play vital roles in CNS physiology, including neuronal firing synchronization, ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis, and vascular tone regulation.
- Astrocytes are interconnected via gap junctions, facilitating potassium redistribution during heightened neuronal activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on astrocyte dysfunction in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).
- To discuss the mechanisms underlying these alterations in astrocytes during epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Investigation of astrocyte function in human epilepsy specimens and animal models.
- Analysis of expression, localization, and function of astroglial ion and water channels.
- Assessment of glutamate transporters and glutamine synthetase activity.
Main Results:
- Alterations in astroglial potassium and water channels were observed in pharmacoresistant TLE patients and models, leading to impaired potassium buffering.
- Malfunction of glutamate transporters and glutamine synthetase was identified in epileptic tissues.
- These astrocyte dysfunctions contribute to neuronal hyperexcitation, seizure spread, and neurotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Dysfunctional astrocytes are implicated as critical players in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.
- Impaired K+ buffering and glutamate transport by astrocytes contribute to seizure activity.
- Astrocytes represent promising therapeutic targets for novel epilepsy treatments.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:09Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
01:12Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
01:14Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
01:29Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters
When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...