Chloride-mediated inhibition of the ictogenic neurones initiating genetically-determined absence seizures

▶We make in vivo electrophysiological recordings from rats with absence epilepsy. ▶We examine the role of the GABAergic system in the cortical focus initiating seizures. ▶The burst firing of ictogenic neurons is disrupted by inhibitory synaptic potentials. ▶This inhibition is chloride-dependent and is generated by local cortical interneurons. ▶The GABAergic transmission performs a negative control on absence-initiating neurons.