Electric Field Suppression Of Epileptiform Activity In Hippocampal Slices.
Gluckman, Bruce J., Emily J. Neel, Theoden I. Netoff, William L. Ditto, Mark
L. Spano, and Steven J. Schiff.
Naval Surface Warfare Center, White Oak Laboratory, Silver Spring, MD 20903
USA, Department of Neurosurgery, Children's National Medical Center and the
George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC USA, Program
in Neuroscience, The George Washington University, Washington, DC USA.
APStracts 3:0196N, 1996.
ABSTRACT
1) The effects of relatively small external DC electric fields on synchronous
activity in CA1 and CA3 from transverse and longitudinal type hippocampal
slices were studied. 2) To record neuronal activity during significant field
changes, differential DC amplification was employed with a reference electrode
aligned along an isopotential with the recording electrode. 3) Suppression of
epileptiform activity was observed in 31 of 33 slices independent of region
studied and type of slice, but was highly dependent on field orientation with
respect to the apical dendritic-somatic axis. 4) Modulation of neuronal
activity in these experiments was readily observed at field strengths at or
below 5-10 mV/mm. Suppression was seen with the field oriented (positive to
negative potential) from the soma to the apical dentrites. 5) In Vivo
application of these results may be feasible.
Received 17 July 1996; accepted in final form 11 September 1996.
APS Manuscript Number J571-6.
Article publication pending J. Neurophysiol.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 7 October 1996