Discoveries

Research. Main Discoveries

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I. BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Cellular and integrative aspects

Excitatory effect of GABA in the immature brain
Sequential formation of GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses
Periodic activity: a fundamental property of the immature brain
Early motor activity drives spindle bursts in the developing somatosensory cortex.
A similar sequence in the Primate brain in utero
Presynaptic inhibition precedes postsynaptic inhibition.
Plasticity of GABAergic synapses in immature neurons
The intact hippocampus in vitro: preparations adapted for the integrative analysis of development
A calcium and SNARE independent transmitter release in immature neurons

Molecular Aspects

NMDA receptors and calponine.

II. EPILEPSIES

A. The immature brain

Formation of an aberrant functional bridge between the neocortex and the hippocampus in a model of ectopia.
Deleterious consequences of seizures on the developing brain
Epilepsy and mirror focus
An animal model of generalized neonatal seizures: the Dravet syndrome

B. Temporal epilepsy in the adult brain: seizures beget seizures

Animal model of TLE based on intraamygdaloid injections of kainate
A selective failure of inhibition restricted to the dendrites of the principal neurons

III. OTHER BRAINS DISORDERS: ISCHEMIA

Persistent deleterious consequences of ischemia: an increase of neuronal excitability
Seizures aggravate the consequences of anoxic insults

IV - GLUTAMATERGIC SYNAPSES

Activation of GluR5 containing kainate receptors excite interneurons
Antiepileptogenic effect of GluR5 containing kainate receptors agonists
The activation of kainate receptors increases selectively the release of GABA on interneurons
Quantal release of glutamate activates kainate receptors

VI - MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF NEURONAL CELL DEATH

Identification of an apoptosis in epileptic and ischemic tissues