Effects of temperature on neuronal bursting in guinea-pig hippocampal slices

In guinea-pig hippocampal slices, activity of CAI and CA3 neurons (pyramidal layer) during temperature changes was extracellularly recorded. A sharp increase in the rate of spontaneous bursts of action potentials 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 to the initial values irrespective of the temperature (between 32 and 40 degrees C) at which stabilization occurred. In a functional temperature range (36-40 degrees C), continuous slow cooling inhibited neuronal bursting activity. It is suggested that temporal extension of neuronal bursting in response to continuous temperature rise may play a role in the generation of febrile seizures. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.