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Hyperexcitability of Neurons and Astrocytes in Epileptic Human Cortex

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Biology and Pathology of Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions

Part of the book series: Altschul Symposia Series ((ALSS,volume 2))

Abstract

Glutamate elicits an excitatory physiological response from most neurons and glia throughout the vertebrate CNS (Shank and Aprison, 1988). With the development of selective agonists and antagonists, five classes of excitatory amino acid receptors (EAA) have been defined. Three of these receptors have been described by their depolarizing actions (NMDA, Kainate [KA], Quisqualate [QUIS/AMPA]). AMPA has recently been shown to be a more selective agonist for the receptor-ion channel complex (Monaghan et al, 1989). A fourth, the AP4 receptor, appears to represent an inhibitory autoreceptor (Watkins et al, 1990). The fifth receptor (metabotropic), which is activated by trans-ACPD and modifies inositol phosphate metabolism (Palmer et al, 1989), appears to have a role in intracellular calcium regulation (Miller et al., 1992). The distribution of these multiple subtypes of glutamate receptors varies among cell types. The array of glutamate receptors that are found on neurons includes the NMDA receptor which is apparently lacking from the glial composite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Ann H. Cornell-Bell

  2. Section of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Anne Williamson

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  1. Ann H. Cornell-Bell
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  1. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Sergey Fedoroff , Bernhard H. J. Juurlink  & Ronald Doucette ,  & 

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Cornell-Bell, A.H., Williamson, A. (1993). Hyperexcitability of Neurons and Astrocytes in Epileptic Human Cortex. In: Fedoroff, S., Juurlink, B.H.J., Doucette, R. (eds) Biology and Pathology of Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions. Altschul Symposia Series, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9486-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9486-1_4

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