The team also analyzed human brain tissue after death and showed that these cells can be
Within days or even years after a person has had a stroke or head injury, they are at an increased risk of developing epilepsy.
During a stroke or traumatic brain injurymany cells at the site of damage immediately die. In the thalamus - an area deep in the center of the brain that can be far from the site of damage - astrocytes are activated, this leads to several negative changes at once.
Previous studies have shown that activationastrocytes in the thalamus is a common consequence of brain injury. At the same time, astrocytes play a key role in supporting neurons, they control their connections and provide nutrients.
The team first checked what happens afteractivation of astrocytes in healthy animals. They found that this caused altered brain activity patterns similar to those seen after injury. The mice became more susceptible to seizures.
They then analyzed the molecular propertiesactivated astrocytes and found that these cells had lost a protein called GAT3, which is responsible for regulating the levels of a specific inhibitory neurotransmitter molecule.
As a result, neighboring neurons were exposed to too much neurotransmitter. This led to increased neuronal excitability and susceptibility to seizures.
After that, the team focused on the role of GAT3in these processes. Notably, increasing GAT3 levels in thalamic astrocytes helped prevent neuronal hyperexcitability and increased risk of seizures.
The researchers hope to continue research in both mice and humans to better understand the activation of astrocytes in the thalamus after brain injury.
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