Research. Main Discoveries Download updated report in PDF format (French and English) 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