Long-Term Potentiation of Inhibitory Responses in the Dentate Gyrus

Repeated epileptogenic stimulation (kindling) of the perforant path or the dentate gyrus results in a long-lasting potentiation of 2 components of inhibition as measured from field responses using a double pulse technique. This potentiation of inhibitory responses does not accompany normal LTP of the excitatory input, but preliminary experiments indicate that it may be induced by non-epileptogenic stimulation applied directly to the hilar region. The mechanism underlying this effect appears to be an increase in the number of GABA and benzodiazepine receptors.