Developmental patterns and plasticities: The hippocampal model

1. J Physiol Paris. 2003 Jan;97(1):27-37.

Developmental patterns and plasticities: the hippocampal model.

Leinekugel X(1).

Author information:
(1)INSERM EMI 0224 Cortex et Epilepsie, Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpêtrière,
Université Paris 6, 105 Boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.

Because developmental activity-dependent synaptic plasticity has been
hypothesized to participate in network refinement, leading to the precise mapping
of synaptic contacts constituting a functional brain, it is important to
investigate the spatio-temporal structure of immature network activities. This
article is briefly reviewing 15 years of studies on the immature rat hippocampus
which, together with recent results obtained from awake rat pups, represent an
important step toward the understanding of spontaneous patterns of activity and
their potential implication in network maturation. Due to synergistic excitatory
actions of GABA and glutamate receptor mediated signals during early postnatal
life, spontaneous patterns of hippocampal activity that have been characterized
both in vitro and in vivo are likely to provide hebbian modulation of developing
glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. Together with studies on trophic actions of
these transmitters, study of the immature hippocampal network patterns and
plasticities allows for multiple technical and conceptual approaches and
represents an interesting experimental model for development studies.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jphysparis.2003.10.004
PMID: 14706688 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus