Synaptic PRG-1 modulates excitatory transmission via lipid phosphate-mediated signaling.

Plasticity related gene-1 (PRG-1) is a brain-specific membrane protein related to lipid phosphate phosphatases, which acts in the hippocampus specifically at the excitatory synapse terminating on glutamatergic neurons. Deletion of prg-1 in mice leads to epileptic seizures and augmentation of EPSCs, but not IPSCs. In utero electroporation of PRG-1 into deficient animals revealed that PRG-1 modulates excitation at the synaptic junction. Mutation of the extracellular domain of PRG-1 crucial for its interaction with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) abolished the ability to prevent hyperexcitability. As LPA application in vitro induced hyperexcitability in wild-type but not in LPA(2) receptor-deficient animals, and uptake of phospholipids is reduced in PRG-1-deficient neurons, we assessed PRG-1/LPA(2) receptor-deficient animals, and found that the pathophysiology observed in the PRG-1-deficient mice was fully reverted. Thus, we propose PRG-1 as an important player in the modulatory control of hippocampal excitability dependent on presynaptic LPA(2) receptor signaling.

Elevation in type I interferons inhibits HCN1 and slows cortical neuronal oscillations.

Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation involves the generation of inducible cytokines such as interferons (IFNs) and alterations in brain activity, yet the interplay of both is not well understood. Here, we show that in vivo elevation of IFNs by viral brain infection reduced hyperpolarization-activated currents (Ih) in cortical pyramidal neurons. In rodent brain slices directly exposed to type I IFNs, the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide (HCN)-gated channel subunit HCN1 was specifically affected. The effect required an intact type I receptor (IFNAR) signaling cascade. Consistent with Ih inhibition, IFNs hyperpolarized the resting membrane potential, shifted the resonance frequency, and increased the membrane impedance. In vivo application of IFN-ß to the rat and to the mouse cerebral cortex reduced the power of higher frequencies in the cortical electroencephalographic activity only in the presence of HCN1. In summary, these findings identify HCN1 channels as a novel neural target for type I IFNs providing the possibility to tune neural responses during the complex event of a CNS inflammation.

Experimental febrile seizures are precipitated by a hyperthermia-induced respiratory alkalosis.

Febrile seizures are frequent during early childhood, and prolonged (complex) febrile seizures are associated with an increased susceptibility to temporal lobe epilepsy. The pathophysiological consequences of febrile seizures have been extensively studied in rat pups exposed to hyperthermia. The mechanisms that trigger these seizures are unknown, however. A rise in brain pH is known to enhance neuronal excitability. Here we show that hyperthermia causes respiratory alkalosis in the immature brain, with a threshold of 0.2-0.3 pH units for seizure induction. Suppressing alkalosis with 5% ambient CO2 abolished seizures within 20 s. CO2 also prevented two long-term effects of hyperthermic seizures in the hippocampus: the upregulation of the I(h) current and the upregulation of CB1 receptor expression. The effects of hyperthermia were closely mimicked by intraperitoneal injection of bicarbonate. Our work indicates a mechanism for triggering hyperthermic seizures and suggests new strategies in the research and therapy of fever-related epileptic syndromes.

Cannabinoids disrupt hippocampal sharp wave-ripples via inhibition of glutamate release.

Cannabis consumption results in impaired learning. The proper synchronization of neuronal activity in the mammalian hippocampus gives rise to network rhythms that are implicated in memory formation. Here, we have studied the impact of cannabinoids on hippocampal sharp waves and associated ripple oscillations using field- and whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings. We demonstrate that the activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 suppresses sharp wave-ripples (SWRs) in mice in vivo and in vitro. This suppression was paralleled by a selective reduction of SWR-associated inward but not outward charge transfer, demonstrating an impairment of excitation due to cannabinoid exposure. Adenosine, a presynaptic modulator of glutamate release, mimicked and occluded the observed consequences of cannabinoids on SWRs. We conclude that inhibition of glutamatergic feed-forward excitation can explain cannabinoid-mediated disruption of SWRs and may account for cannabinoid-induced impairment of hippocampus-dependent memory.

Respiratory alkalosis in children with febrile seizures.

PURPOSE: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common type of convulsive events in children. FS are suggested to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying FS remain unclear. Using an animal model of experimental FS, it was demonstrated that hyperthermia causes respiratory alkalosis with consequent brain alkalosis and seizures. Here we examine the acid-base status of children who were admitted to the hospital for FS. Children who were admitted because of gastroenteritis (GE), a condition known to promote acidosis, were examined to investigate a possible protective effect of acidosis against FS. METHODS: We enrolled 433 age-matched children with similar levels of fever from two groups presented to the emergency department. One group was admitted for FS (n = 213) and the other for GE (n = 220). In the FS group, the etiology of fever was respiratory tract infection (74.2%), otitis media (7%), GE (7%), tonsillitis (4.2%), scarlet fever (2.3%) chickenpox (1.4%), urinary tract infection (1.4%), postvaccination reaction (0.9%), or unidentified (1.4%). In all patients, capillary pH and blood Pco(2) were measured immediately on admission to the hospital. KEY FINDINGS: Respiratory alkalosis was found in children with FS (pH 7.46 ± 0.04, [mean ± standard deviation] Pco(2) 29.5 ± 5.5 mmHg), whereas a metabolic acidosis was seen in all children admitted for GE (pH 7.31 ± 0.03, Pco(2) 37.7 ± 4.3 mmHg; p < 0.001 for both parameters). No FS were observed in the latter group. A subgroup (n = 15; 7%) of the patients with FS had GE and, notably, their blood pH was more alkaline (pH 7.44 ± 0.04) than in the GE-admitted group. During the enrollment period, eight of the patients were admitted on separate occasions because of FS or GE. Consistent with the view that generation of FS requires a genetic susceptibility in addition to acute seizure triggering factors, each of these patients had an alkalotic blood pH when admitted because of FS, whereas they had an acidotic pH (and no FS) when admitted because of GE (pH 7.47 ± 0.05 vs. pH 7.33 ± 0.03, p < 0.005). SIGNIFICANCE: The results show that FS are associated with a systemic respiratory alkalosis, irrespective of the severity of the underlying infection as indicated by the level of fever. The lack of FS in GE patients is attributable to low pH, which also explains the fact that children with a susceptibility to FS do not have seizures when they have GE-induced fever that is associated with acidosis. The present demonstration of a close link between FS and respiratory alkalosis may pave the way for further clinical studies and attempts to design novel therapies for the treatment of FS by controlling the systemic acid-base status.

Five percent CO2 is a potent, fast-acting inhalation anticonvulsant.

PURPOSE: CO2 has been long recognized for its anticonvulsant properties. We aimed to determine whether inhaling 5% CO2 can be used to suppress seizures in epilepsy patients. The effect of CO2 on cortical epileptic activity accompanying behavioral seizures was studied in rats and nonhuman primates, and based on these data, preliminary tests were carried out in humans. METHODS: In freely moving rats, cortical afterdischarges paralleled by myoclonic convulsions were evoked by sensorimotor cortex stimulation. Five percent CO2 was applied for 5 min, 3 min before stimulation. In macaque monkeys, hypercarbia was induced by hypoventilation while seizure activity was electrically or chemically evoked in the sensorimotor cortex. Seven patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy were examined with video-EEG (electroencephalography) and received 5% CO2 in medical carbogen shortly after electrographic seizure onset. RESULTS: In rats, 5% CO2 strongly suppressed cortical afterdischarges, by approximately 75%, whereas responses to single-pulse stimulation were reduced by about 15% only. In macaques, increasing pCO2) from 37 to 44-45 mm Hg (corresponding to inhalation of 5% CO2 or less) suppressed stimulation-induced cortical afterdischarges by about 70% and single, bicuculline-induced epileptiform spikes by approximately 25%. In a pilot trial carried out in seven patients, a rapid termination of electrographic seizures was seen despite the fact that the application of 5% CO2 was started after seizure generalization. CONCLUSIONS: Five percent CO2 has a fast and potent anticonvulsant action. The present data suggest that medical carbogen with 5% CO2 can be used for acute treatment to suppress seizures in epilepsy patients.

Neurturin evokes MAPK-dependent upregulation of Egr4 and KCC2 in developing neurons.

The K-Cl cotransporter KCC2 plays a crucial role in the functional development of GABA(A)-mediated responses rendering GABA hyperpolarizing in adult neurons. We have previously shown that BDNF upregulates KCC2 in immature neurons through the transcription factor Egr4. The effect of BDNF on Egr4 and KCC2 was shown to be dependent on the activation of ERK1/2. Here we demonstrate that the trophic factor neurturin can also trigger Egr4 expression and upregulate KCC2 in an ERK1/2-dependent manner. These results show that Egr4 is an important component in the mechanism for trophic factor-mediated upregulation of KCC2 in immature neurons involving the activation of specific intracellular pathways common to BDNF and Neurturin.

Non-invasive quantification of hepatic fat fraction by fast 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 T MR imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Even mild hepatic steatosis in a split liver donor may cause general liver failure and death in the donor. So far, CT density measurements or percutaneous biopsy is used to determine the presence of hepatic steatosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be an elegant method of non-invasive and non-radiation quantification of hepatic fat content. METHODS: Fast gradient echo (GRE) technique was used to discriminate between fat and water spins. Echo time (TE) was adjusted for field strength dependent in-phase and out-of-phase states at 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 T. Continuous MR signal transition from 100% water to 100% fat was investigated using a wedge water-oil phantom, which was positioned in such a way, that no spatial resolution occurred, thereby combining water and fat in one slice. RESULTS: Using the phantom, a significant difference for a 5% difference in fat content was demonstrated in the range from 20 to 80% fat content (p<0.05) for all tested field strengths. In 25 patients MRI data were correlated with the percentage of fat determined by histologic evaluation of a CT-guided liver biopsy. Using the linear correlation calculated from the MRI phantom data at 1.0 T, we determined the liver fat from each patient's MRI measurements. Comparison of these data with the histologic quantified fat fraction of liver tissue showed a strong correlation (r(2)=0.93 for TE 6 ms and r(2)=0.91 for TE 10 ms). CONCLUSION: The described method can be used to determine the presence of hepatic steatosis of >10% with p<0.05.

Changes of neuronal activity in areas CA1 and CA3 during anoxia and normoxic or hyperoxic reoxygenation in juvenile rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures.

In neonates, asphyxia is usually followed by hyperoxic treatment. In order to study whether hyperoxic reoxygenation might cause additional impairment of neuronal function, we subjected organotypic hippocampal slice cultures of juvenile rats (7 DIV, P6-8) to 30 min anoxia followed by 60 min hyperoxic or normoxic reoxygenation (95% or 19% O2, respectively). Spontaneous and evoked field potentials as well as [Ca2+]o were recorded in the pyramidal layer of area CA1 or area CA3. In area CA1, 30 min of anoxia led to decline of evoked field potential amplitudes by on average 67% and to profound changes in field potential characteristics and Ca2+ homeostasis which were not related to outcome after reoxygenation. Hyperoxic reoxygenation resulted first in a fast recovery of the field potential amplitude to 82% of the control value and then, in 75% of slice cultures, in a large negative field potential shift accompanied by a prolonged decrease of [Ca2+]o and loss of excitability outlasting the experiment. Recovery of field potential amplitude under normoxic conditions stayed poor, with a first increase to 51% and a second decrease to 22%. In contrast, field potential amplitude in area CA3 recovered to 80% of the initial amplitude, irrespective of the reoxygenation mode. The selective loss of function during hyperoxic reoxygenation in area CA1 might be a first sign of neuronal injury that we observed 1 h after end of hyperoxic reoxygenation in a previous study. Whether the poor outcome after normoxic reoxygenation would favour long-term recovery remains to be determined.

Membrane glucocorticoid receptors (mGCR) are expressed in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and up-regulated after in vitro stimulation and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Glucocorticoids mediate their therapeutic actions mostly by genomic effects via cytosolic receptors, but some effects are too rapid to be mediated by changes at the genomic level. The detailed mechanisms of these nongenomic actions are still unclear. Membrane-bound glucocorticoid receptors (mGCR) have been suggested to be involved, although their physiological existence in humans so far is hypothetical. For the first time we demonstrate the existence of mGCR on monocytes and B cells obtained from healthy blood donors using high-sensitivity immunofluorescent staining. Immunostimulation with lipopolysaccharide increases the percentage of mGCR-positive monocytes, which can be prevented by inhibiting the secretory pathway. Overexpression of the human glucocorticoid receptor alpha alone is not sufficient to enhance mGCR expression. These in vitro findings are consistent with our clinical observation that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis the frequency of mGCR positive monocytes is increased and positively correlated with disease activity. We conclude that mGCR are 1) indeed physiologically present in healthy blood donors, but remained unidentified by conventional techniques due to their small number per cell and 2) actively up-regulated and transported through the cell after immunostimulation. These receptors may reflect a feedback mechanism of the organism upon immunostimulation and/or play a role in pathogenesis.

Erythropoietin improves synaptic transmission during and following ischemia in rat hippocampal slice cultures.

Erythropoietin (EPO) prevents neuronal damage following ischemic, metabolic, and excitotoxic stress. In this study evoked extracellular field potentials (FP) were used to investigate the effect of EPO on synaptic transmission in hippocampal slice cultures. EPO treated cultured slices (40 units/ml for 48 h) showed significantly increased FP during and following oxygen and glucose deprivation compared with untreated control slices. The addition of the Jak2 inhibitor AG490 (50 microM for 48 h) blocked the EPO effect. These data suggest that EPO improves synaptic transmission during and following ischemia in hippocampal slice cultures.

Recurrent seizures do not cause hippocampal damage.

Neuronal consequences of recurrent single epileptic seizures have been discussed controversially for some time. Various cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown a positive correlation between the severity of epilepsy and the extent of hippocampal damage. However, the open question whether recurrent epileptic seizures induce hippocampal structural pathology can be assessed only in longitudinal studies. The few recent follow-up studies have revealed conflicting results. In the current MRI study we have employed volumetry and T2 relaxometry to quantify hippocampal structural changes of patients with chronic partial epilepsies over a period of 3 years. Our main findings demonstrate that these patients who experience continuing epileptic seizures do no show any development of new pathology or any relevant deterioration of pre-existing hippocampal structural lesions. This argues against the assumption that recurrent epileptic seizures cause or increase structural hippocampal damage.

Neurobiological and physiological mechanisms of fever-related epileptiform syndromes.

Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common type of convulsive events in children. FS have been extensively studied using animal models, where rat and mice pups are placed in a hyperthermic environment. Such work has largely focused on the consequences rather than on the mechanisms of experimental febrile seizures (eFS). We have recently shown that eFS are preceded by a dramatic rise in the rate of respiration. The consequent respiratory alkalosis affecting the brain and increasing neuronal excitability is a direct cause of the eFS [1]. If a similar mechanism contributes to human FS and other fever-related epileptiform syndromes, a number of factors operating at the molecular, cellular and systems level that have not been previously thought to be involved in their etiology must be considered. These include physiological and pathophysiological factors affecting CO(2) chemosensitivity as well as cellular and systemic mechanisms of acid-base regulation. Furthermore, a critical role for brain pH in FS points to novel types of susceptibility genes, which include genes coding pH-sensitive target proteins (e.g. neuronal ion channels) and pH-regulatory proteins. We will discuss these novel ideas and putative therapies based on them.

Pronounced increase in breathing rate in the "hair dryer model" of experimental febrile seizures.

In a study using a heated chamber for induction of experimental febrile seizures (eFS) in rat pups, ictal activity was shown to be precipitated by a respiratory alkalosis (Schuchmann et al., 2006). In sharp contrast to this, in a recent review Dubé et al., (2007) suggest that the respiratory alkalosis is model specific, and that no increase in respiratory rate is observed in the widely used "hair dryer model" of eFS. The data in the present work, based on well-established techniques for measuring respiratory rates in rat pups, show a pronounced increase in the "hair dryer model" with values that are slightly higher than those recorded in the heated chamber model. Hence, a temperature-evoked increase in respiration is a common feature of these two models of eFS.

The cation-chloride cotransporter NKCC1 promotes sharp waves in the neonatal rat hippocampus.

Earlier studies indicate a crucial role for the interconnected network of intrinsically bursting CA3 pyramidal neurons in the generation of in vivo hippocampal sharp waves (SPWs) and their proposed neonatal in vitro counterparts, the giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs). While mechanisms involving ligand- and voltage-gated channels have received lots of attention in the generation of CA3 network events in the immature hippocampus, the contribution of ion-transport mechanisms has not been extensively studied. Here, we show that bumetanide, a selective inhibitor of neuronal Cl- uptake mediated by the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1), completely and reversibly blocks SPWs in the neonate (postnatal days 7-9) rat hippocampus in vivo, an action also seen on GDPs in slices (postnatal days 1-8). These findings strengthen the view that GDPs and early SPWs are homologous events. Gramicidin-perforated patch recordings indicated that NKCC1 accounts for a large ( approximately 10 mV) depolarizing driving force for the GABAA current in the immature CA3 pyramids. Consistent with a reduction in the depolarization mediated by endogenous GABAA-receptor activation, bumetanide inhibited the spontaneous bursts of individual neonatal CA3 pyramids, but it slightly increased the interneuronal activity as seen in the frequency of spontaneous GABAergic currents. An inhibitory effect of bumetanide was seen on the in vitro population events in the absence of synaptic GABAA receptor-mediated transmission, provided that a tonic GABAA receptor-mediated current was present. Our work indicates that NKCC1 expressed in CA3 pyramidal neurons promotes network activity in the developing hippocampus.

Neuronal Ca2+ sensor protein VILIP-1 affects cGMP signalling of guanylyl cyclase B by regulating clathrin-dependent receptor recycling in hippocampal neurons.

The family of neuronal Ca2+ sensor (NCS) proteins is known to influence a variety of physiological and pathological processes by affecting signalling of different receptors and ion channels. Recently, it has been shown that the NCS protein VILIP-1 influences the activity of the receptor guanylyl cyclase GC-B. In transfected cell lines, VILIP-1 performs a Ca2+-dependent membrane association, the reversible Ca2+-myristoyl switch of VILIP-1, which leads to an increase in natriuretic peptide-stimulated cGMP levels. In this study, we have investigated the effect of VILIP-1 on cGMP signalling in C6 cells and in primary hippocampal neurons, where VILIP-1 and GC-B are co-expressed in many but not all neurons and partially co-localize in the soma and in dendrites. Our data indicate that VILIP-1 modulates GC-B activity by influencing clathrin-dependent receptor recycling. These data support a general physiological role for VILIP-1 in membrane trafficking in the intact hippocampus, where the NCS protein may affect processes, such as neuronal differentiation and synaptic plasticity e.g. by influencing cGMP-signalling.

Processes and components participating in the generation of intrinsic optical signal changes in vitro.

Imaging of intrinsic optical signals has become an important tool in the neurosciences. To better understand processes underlying changes in intrinsic optical signals, we studied electrical stimulation at varying strengths in hippocampal slices of adult Wistar rats. Following serial stimulation we observed an increase in light transmittance in all tested slices. During antidromic stimulation at minimum stimulation strength the increase in light transmittance was 75 +/- 8% (P < 0.05), and during orthodromic minimum stimulation 19.6 +/- 5.6% (P < 0.001) in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1-region. During orthodromic stimulation no significant difference between submaximum, maximum and supramaximum stimulation was found, indicating saturation. In contrast, submaximum antidromic stimulation yielded 56.2 +/- 12% (P < 0.05) of maximum stimulation strength, indicating recruitment. In a further set of experiments serial stimulation was carried out under glial blockade with fluoroacetate (FAC) or blockage of mitochondrial function. Amplitude and slope of the intrinsic optical signal significantly decreased in the presence of FAC (amplitude: 36 +/- 6%, P < 0.01; slope: 37 +/- 11% as compared with baseline conditions, P < 0.05). This suggests a glial participation in signal generation. Rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, yielded decreased amplitudes of the intrinsic optical signal (27 +/- 7% after 40 min, P < 0.01). Our data indicate that the intrinsic optical signal change reflects type and strength of neuronal activation and point to glia and mitochondria as important participants in signal generation.

Oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential indicate developmental adaptation in energy metabolism of rat cortical neurons.

Neuronal energy needs are mainly covered via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Even if the energy supply appears identical in immature and adult brain, nevertheless quantitative differences exist. The present study focuses on the adaptations in cellular energy metabolism caused by the neuronal maturation. As main parameters of oxidative phosphorylation, cellular oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured in isolated rat cortical cells using a Clark-type oxygen electrode and microfluorometric techniques. In four age groups (E18-P2, P8-P12, P16-P20, > or = P28), unstimulated neurons showed a significant age-dependent increase in basal oxygen consumption (6.1 up to 10.2 nM/min/10(7) cells). The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate induced a further, but age- and concentration-independent, elevation of oxygen consumption to a plateau > or = 14 nM/min/10(7) cells and a complete depolarization of mitochondrial membrane in neurons > or = P8. Stimulation using K+ (5-50 mM) effected a concentration- and age-dependent increase in oxygen consumption, but a similar nearby complete depolarization of mitochondrial membrane in all tested age groups. Furthermore, uncoupling mitochondrial membrane function followed by a complete depolarization of mitochondrial membrane showed a maximal oxygen consumption (14-15 nM/min/10(7) cells) only in neurons > or = P8. These data suggest that developing and adult cortical neurons cover their increased need of energy following stimulation by an efficiency improvement of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The age-independent limited capacity of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, however, causes a reduction in cellular energy disposal in mature neurons and therefore may play a critical role in the increased sensitivity of adult neurons against excitotoxicity and ischaemia.

Nitric oxide modulates low-Mg2+-induced epileptiform activity in rat hippocampal-entorhinal cortex slices.

The production of nitric oxide (NO) during low-Mg2+-induced epileptiform activity in rat hippocampal-entorhinal cortex slices was investigated by real-time monitoring using 1,2-diaminoanthraquinone (DAQ). NO reacts with the aromatic amino groups of DAQ at neutral pH and in the presence of oxygen to form the fluorescence product 1H-anthra-[1,2d]-[1,2,3]triazole-6,11-dione (ATD). The DAQ-induced formation of ATD required NO and was insensitive to radical oxygen species. Removal of Mg2+ ions from the artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) induced a significant elevation in the ATD fluorescence signal. The application of L-arginine (2 mM), a substrate of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), caused a comparable increase in the ATD fluorescence signal. Furthermore, ATD signal increase induced either by low-Mg2+ ACSF or by L-arginine was sensitive to N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a NOS inhibitor. The application of L-NAME (200 microM) caused a complete blockade of low-Mg2+-induced epileptiform activity. Under this condition, increasing NO concentration by addition of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (200 microM) reinduced the epileptiform activity. It has been concluded that onset and maintenance of low-Mg2+-induced spontaneous epileptiform activity are modulated by NO concentration. Further NO imaging studies may help to elucidate the role of NO in detail and may bring to light new means for epilepsy therapy.

Free radical-mediated cell damage after experimental status epilepticus in hippocampal slice cultures.

Generation of free radicals may have a key role in the nerve cell damage induced by prolonged or frequently recurring convulsions (status epilepticus). Mitochondrial function may also be altered due to production of free radicals during seizures. We therefore studied changes in field potentials (fp) together with measurements of extracellular, intracellular, and intramitochondrial calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]e, [Ca(2+)]i, and [Ca(2+)]m, respectively), mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi), NAD(P)H auto-fluorescence, and dihydroethidium (HEt) fluorescence in hippocampal slice cultures by means of simultaneous electrophysiological and microfluorimetric measurements. As reported previously, each seizure-like event (SLE) resulted in mitochondrial depolarization associated with a delayed rise in oxidation of HEt to ethidum, presumably indicating ROS production. We show here that repeated SLEs led to a decline in intracellular and intramitochondrial Ca(2+) signals despite unaltered Ca(2+) influx. Also, mitochondrial depolarization and the NAD(P)H signal became smaller during recurring SLEs. By contrast, the ethidium fluorescence rises remained constant or even increased from SLE to SLE. After about 15 SLEs, activity changed to continuous afterdischarges with steady depolarization of mitochondrial membranes. Staining with a cell death marker, propidium iodide, indicated widespread cell damage after 2 h of recurring SLEs. The free radical scavenger, alpha-tocopherol, protected the slice cultures against this damage and also reduced the ongoing impairment of NAD(P)H production. These findings suggest involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of mitochondrial origin in the epileptic cell damage and that free radical scavenging may prevent status epilepticus-induced cell loss.