Biomedical subjects

Vincenzo Crunelli

Publications and source records attributed to Vincenzo Crunelli.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Childhood absence epilepsy: genes, channels, neurons and networks.

Childhood absence epilepsy is an idiopathic, generalized non-convulsive epilepsy with a multifactorial genetic aetiology. Molecular-genetic analyses of affected human families and experimental models, together with neurobiological investigations, have led to important breakthroughs in the identification of candidate genes and loci, and potential pathophysiological mechanisms for this type of epilepsy. Here, we review these results, and compare the human and experimental phenotypes that have been investigated. Continuing efforts and comparisons of this type will help us to elucidate the multigenetic traits and pathophysiology of this form of generalized epilepsy.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Block of Thalamic T-Type Ca(2+) Channels by Ethosuximide Is Not the Whole Story.

On the basis of more than a decade of studies on the cellular effects of ethosuximide, currently, the most prudent view is that together with a block of the low threshold, T-type Ca(2)(+) current, a reduction both of the noninactivating Na(+) current, and the Ca(2)(+)-activated K(+) current in thalamic and cortical neurones contribute to the overall therapeutic action of this antiabsence medicine.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Astrocytes, spontaneity, and the developing thalamus.

Recent studies in the ventrobasal (VB) thalamus have shown that astrocytes display spontaneous intracellular calcium [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations early postnatally. [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations are correlated in groups of up to five astrocytes, and propagate between cells. NMDA receptor-mediated, long lasting inward currents in thalamocortical (TC) neurons of the VB complex are correlated to [Ca(2+)](i) increases in neighbouring astrocytes, and stimulation of astrocytic [Ca(2+)](i) increases also lead to inward currents in neurons. These findings suggest that astrocytes are spontaneously active and can induce neuronal activity, a reversal of the previously held view of neuron-glia interactions in the central nervous system. This activity occurs at an important period in the development of the thalamus and therefore suggests a potential functional role in a variety of processes. Along with data on the neurotransmitter receptor repertoire of thalamic astrocytes these findings enlarge the body of knowledge on astrocytes in the thalamus, and further contribute to the emerging field of astrocyte-neuron and neuron-astrocyte interactions in the central nervous system.

Animals↗