Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

762
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...
762
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

829
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...
829
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

3.0K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.0K
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

32.9K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
32.9K
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

1.1K
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Neurobiology of pair-bonded sociality in prairie voles].

Nihon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia pharmacologica Japonica·2026
Same author

Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Changes in Facial Expression and Orofacial Movement in Mice.

Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin·2026
Same author

Arecoline Facilitates Object Recognition in Mice.

Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin·2026
Same author

Rice-memolin modulates prefrontal neural oscillations during sleep.

Journal of pharmacological sciences·2026
Same author

Structured spontaneous activity through delta oscillation-based discrete states in the medaka telencephalon.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Magnesium Deficiency Disrupts Blood Glucose Homeostasis in a Time-of-Day-Dependent Manner.

Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin·2026
Same journal

Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations for the Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Tests in Pediatric Allergology: Focus on Asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis, and Keratoconjunctivitis Vernal.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same journal

Surgical and Transcatheter Approach of a Failed Mitral Valve Repair: A Comprehensive Review on Selecting the Most Suitable Approach.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same journal

Hybrid Metaheuristic Feature Selection for Breast Cancer Detection in Digital Mammography: A Feasibility Study with Nested Validation, Benchmarking, and External Stress Testing.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same journal

Identity Transformation and the Role of Accountability in Recovery from Problematic Pornography Use: A Phenomenological-Hermeneutical Study.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same journal

Does Early Surgical Treatment in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Have a Favorable Clinical Outcome and Impact on Quality of Life?

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same journal

Shear Wave Elastography in Musculoskeletal Imaging: A Narrative Review.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods
07:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods

Published on: March 1, 2024

987

Synaptic Pruning by Microglia in Epilepsy.

Megumi Andoh1, Yuji Ikegaya1, Ryuta Koyama1

  • 1Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|December 11, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microglia-mediated synaptic pruning may be enhanced in epilepsy, potentially disrupting excitatory-inhibitory balance and worsening the condition. New therapeutic targets may emerge from understanding this microglial role in the brain.

Keywords:
C1qE/I balanceengulfmentepilepsymicrogliaseizuresynapsesynaptic pruning

More Related Videos

A Novel In Vitro Live-imaging Assay of Astrocyte-mediated Phagocytosis Using pH Indicator-conjugated Synaptosomes
06:43

A Novel In Vitro Live-imaging Assay of Astrocyte-mediated Phagocytosis Using pH Indicator-conjugated Synaptosomes

Published on: February 5, 2018

12.6K
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

12.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods
07:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Glial Influence in Experience-Dependent Synaptic Pruning During Critical Periods

Published on: March 1, 2024

987
A Novel In Vitro Live-imaging Assay of Astrocyte-mediated Phagocytosis Using pH Indicator-conjugated Synaptosomes
06:43

A Novel In Vitro Live-imaging Assay of Astrocyte-mediated Phagocytosis Using pH Indicator-conjugated Synaptosomes

Published on: February 5, 2018

12.6K
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

12.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Epilepsy Research

Background:

  • Synaptic E/I balance is crucial for CNS function; its collapse underlies neurological disorders.
  • Epilepsy involves an excitatory shift in synaptic E/I balance, with limited success of current neuron-focused therapies.
  • Glial cells, particularly microglia, are increasingly recognized for their roles in synaptic function and neurological disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose and discuss the hypothesis that microglia-mediated synaptic pruning is enhanced in epilepsy.
  • To explore the potential role of aberrant microglial pruning in inducing synaptic E/I imbalance.
  • To highlight microglia as potential therapeutic targets for epilepsy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on microglia, synaptic pruning, and epilepsy.
  • Analysis of findings linking microglial activity to synaptic alterations post-seizure.
  • Hypothetical model development based on current evidence.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests microglia play significant roles in inflammation, neuronal death, and neurogenesis after seizures.
  • Synaptic pruning is a key microglial function, yet its specific role in epilepsy remains understudied.
  • The review posits enhanced synaptic pruning by microglia in the epileptic brain.

Conclusions:

  • Aberrant synaptic pruning by microglia may contribute to synaptic E/I imbalance in epilepsy.
  • This microglial-driven imbalance could promote epilepsy development and exacerbation.
  • Targeting microglial synaptic pruning presents a novel therapeutic avenue for drug-resistant epilepsy.