Neuroscience Seminar 27th November 2025 Dr Neela Codadu
Dr Neela Codadu (UCL) will give a talk at noon on 27th Nov, in MED.L2.2
"Focal astrocytic Kir4.1 loss drives seizures, spreading depolarisations, and post-ictal impairments.
Astrocytes play a vital role in maintaining physiological neuronal activity, and their dysfunction is increasingly recognised as a key contributor to epilepsy. Selective loss of Kir4.1 potassium channel in hippocampal astrocytes disrupts neuronal homeostasis, leading to spontaneous seizures with or without spreading depolarisation. Seizures with spreading depolarisations markedly prolong post-ictal depression and impair arousal, revealing their role in post-seizure pathophysiology. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how astrocytic dysfunction drives epileptogenesis and seizure-associated comorbidities.