Event:

The production of new hippocampal neurons continues throughout adulthood in the mammalian brain and has been implicated in hippocampal memory formation. Animal studies have shown that the production of new neurons, neurogenesis, increases several-fold acutely following epileptic seizures within the temporal lobes. Electrophysiological recordings of the new neurons born into the hyperexcitable environment following a seizure insult have suggested a possible compensatory inhibitory role for these cells. However, other studies indicate that new neurons may instead propagate the pathology. When new neurons integrate into a pre-existing neuronal network, their function will be modulated by numerous and heterogeneous afferent neuronal synaptic inputs. These synaptic interactions may also be modified by the surrounding glial cells. Brain inflammation, including microglia activation, is one of the hallmarks following several types of seizure activity. It is known to regulate the survival of newborn hippocampal neurons, but it may also affect synapse formation and transmission in the new neurons surviving in the pathological environment. The current talk will include an overview about hippocampal neurogenesis following epileptic seizures and provide new data about synaptic adhesion molecules and scaffolding proteins on newly formed neurons following epileptic seizures and brain inflammation.