Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
14:57
Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology
Published on: March 23, 2011
Hippocampal excitability is increased in aged mice
Youssef Hanna El-Hayek1, Chiping Wu, Hui Ye
1Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
Experimental Neurology
|March 21, 2013
Summary
Aging increases seizure risk due to heightened hippocampal network excitability. Aged mice show more frequent brain spikes and spontaneous potentials, suggesting a link between brain hyperactivity and seizures in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Epilepsy Mechanisms
Background:
- Aging is linked to increased seizure disorder risk.
- Mechanisms of age-related seizure susceptibility are not fully understood.
- Previous studies noted loss of inhibitory interneurons in aged rodent hippocampus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-dependent changes in hippocampal network activity.
- To compare network excitability in young adult, aging, and aged mice.
- To elucidate the intrinsic network excitability of the aged hippocampus.
Main Methods:
- Intracranial electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings in freely moving mice.
- Extracellular recordings in acute hippocampal slices.
- Pharmacological suppression of EEG spikes using diazepam.
Main Results:
- Aging and aged mice exhibited frequent EEG spikes, unlike young adults.
- EEG spikes were suppressed by diazepam, indicating GABAergic involvement.
- Aged mice showed frequent, large-amplitude spontaneous field potentials in hippocampal slices.
- These potentials originated from the CA3 region and relied on glutamatergic activity.
Conclusions:
- Hippocampal network excitability is increased in aged mice.
- This age-related hyperactivity may contribute to increased seizure susceptibility.
- Findings suggest a potential mechanism for epilepsy in aging populations.
