Febrile seizures in the developing brain result in persistent modification
of neuronal excitability in limbic circuits
Kang Chen1, 2, Tallie Z. Baram1, 2
& Ivan Soltesz1
1
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University
of California, Irvine, California 92697-1280
2
Department of Pediatrics, University of California,
Irvine, California 92697-1280
Correspondence should be addressed to Ivan Soltesz isoltesz@uci.edu
Febrile (fever-induced) seizures affect 3−5% of infants and young
children. Despite the high incidence of febrile seizures, their contribution
to the development of epilepsy later in life has remained controversial. Combining
a new rat model of complex febrile seizures and patch clamp techniques, we
determined that hyperthermia-induced seizures in the immature rat cause a
selective presynaptic increase in inhibitory synaptic transmission in the
hippocampus that lasts into adulthood. The long-lasting nature of these potent
alterations in synaptic communication after febrile seizures does not support
the prevalent view of the 'benign' nature of early-life febrile convulsions.
