Light-activated channels in acute seizures
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Updated: May 28, 2026

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue
Published on: January 19, 2019
1Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Merab.kokaia@med.lu.se
Abstract:
Optogenetics allow for timely precise and cell-population specific activation or inhibition of neuronal activity. Hallorhodopsin NpHR is an inward cholride pump, which when activated by orange light, hyperpolarises neuronal membrane and inhibitis action potential generation. We were first to show that transduction of principal neurons with NpHR in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures effectivey attenuates epileptiform activity when exposed to orange light. Our data suggest that optogenetic approach may become a useful method for controlling epileptiform activity, and may open novel avenues to develop alternative treatment strategies for epilepsy.
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