Project Title:

Role of glial transmitter receptors in epileptic network function in vivo

Laura C. Caudal

Objectives:

The aim of this project is to provide information about communication mechanisms between neuronal and glial cell populations in an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Glial network activities will be assessed primarily as Ca²⁺ signals since these have integrative functions. Electrical activity such as extracellular field activity in slice preparations or EEG recordings from experimental animals will be used for complementation and confirmation.

Methodology:

Knockout mice with inducible gene deletion will be investigated by in vivo 2P-LSM using intracellular Ca²⁺ as indicator of glial network activity. After induced gene ablation, chemical seizures will be evoked. Ca²⁺ signals as well as EEGs will be recorded in the affected mice. In addition, molecular and immunohistochemical techniques will be applied to determine and quantify the extent of receptor knockout and subsequent changes in the adjacent neighbourhood.

Frank Kirchhoff
CIPMM, University of Saarland

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http://physiology.uni-saarland.de/Kirchhoff/Kirchhoff_Research.html,
http://www.kirchhoff-lab.de