EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON NEURONAL BURSTING IN GUINEA-PIG HIPPOCAMPALSLICES

In guinea-pig hippocampal slices, activity of CAI and CA3 neurons (pyr amidal layer) during temperature changes was extracellularly recorded. A sharp increase in the rate of spontaneous bursts of action potentia ls as well as in the number of spikes in a burst during low-amplitude warming in a functional temperature range (36-40 degrees C) was found. Cessation of warming was followed by a recovery of these parameters t o the initial values irrespective of the temperature (between 32 and 4 0 degrees C) at which stabilization occurred. In a functional temperat ure range (36-40 degrees C), continuous slow cooling inhibited neurona l bursting activity. It is suggested that temporal extension of neuron al bursting in response to continuous temperature rise may play a role in the generation of febrile seizures. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.