I am currently studying mossy fiber restructuring in a model of epilepsy. The occurrence of seizures not only changes the structure of individual mossy fiber connections, as mentioned, but can also lead to the generation of new mossy fiber terminals, some of which terminate in novel locations. Dentate gyrus neurogenesis also increases, and some of the newly born granule cells migrate to abnormal locations, producing new mossy fibers and connections. These changes are coincident with the appearance of spontaneous seizures in the animal. The studies presently underway will determine how these ectopic granule cells insert themselves into the pattern of local synaptic connectivity (by characterizing afferent input to, and efferent output from them), and how normal mossy fibers are altered, changes that could affect the excitability of the structure.

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