HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 562/1/107    most recent jphysiol.2004.076133v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jones, R. S. G. Articles by Woodhall, G. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jones, R. S. G. Articles by Woodhall, G. L. Related Collections Review articles

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
² Molecular Biosciences Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston, University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK

Abstract

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is a key brain area controlling both hippocampal input and output via neurones in layer II and layer V, respectively. It is also a pivotal area in the generation and propagation of epilepsies involving the temporal lobe. We have previously shown that within the network of the EC, neurones in layer V are subject to powerful synaptic excitation but weak inhibition, whereas the reverse is true in layer II. The deep layers are also highly susceptible to acutely provoked epileptogenesis. Considerable evidence now points to a role of spontaneous background synaptic activity in control of neuronal, and hence network, excitability. In the present article we describe results of studies where we have compared background release of the excitatory transmitter, glutamate, and the inhibitory transmitter, GABA, in the two layers, the role of this background release in the balance of excitability, and its control by presynaptic auto- and heteroreceptors on presynaptic terminals.

(Received 28 September 2004; accepted after revision 20 October 2004; first published online 21 October 2004)
Corresponding author R. S. G. Jones: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. Email: r.s.g.jones{at}bath.ac.uk

This article is dedicated to the memory of Eberhard Buhl, a dear friend, a great man and a brilliant scientist. He is sadly missed. It was presented at The Journal of Physiology Symposium in honour of the late Eberhard H. Buhl on Structure/Function Correlates in Neurons and Networks, Leeds, UK, 10 September 2004. It was commissioned by the Editorial Board and reflects the views of the authors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. R. Fernandez and J. A. White Artificial Synaptic Conductances Reduce Subthreshold Oscillations and Periodic Firing in Stellate Cells of the Entorhinal Cortex J. Neurosci., April 2, 2008; 28(14): 3790 - 3803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Butovas, S. G. Hormuzdi, H. Monyer, and C. Schwarz Effects of Electrically Coupled Inhibitory Networks on Local Neuronal Responses to Intracortical Microstimulation J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2006; 96(3): 1227 - 1236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. E. N. LeBeau and M. A. Whittington Structure/function correlates of neuronal and network activity - an overview J. Physiol., January 1, 2005; 562(1): 1 - 2. [Full Text] [PDF]