Olga Ganina

Dr. Olga Ganina

Nevsky Center of Scientific Collaboration, Saint Petersburg 192119, Russia

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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AVAnna B. Volnova
Anna B. Volnova
VTVassiliy Tsytsarev
Vassiliy Tsytsarev
OGOlga Ganina
Olga Ganina
GVGrace E. Vélez-Crespo
Grace E. Vélez-Crespo
JAJanaina Maria Alves
Janaina Maria Alves
Mikhail InyushinMikhail Inyushin
Mikhail Inyushin
Gap junctions (GJs) are intercellular junctions that allow the direct transfer of ions and small molecules between neighboring cells, and GJs between astrocytes play an important role in the development of various pathologies of the brain, including regulation of the pathological neuronal synchronization underlying epileptic seizures. Recently, we found that a pathological change is observed in astrocytes during the ictal and interictal phases of 4-aminopyridin (4-AP)-elicited epileptic activity in vitro, which was correlated with neuronal synchronization and extracellular epileptic electrical activity. This finding raises the question: Does this signal depend on GJs between astrocytes? In this study we investigated the effect of the GJ blocker, carbenoxolone (CBX), on epileptic activity in vitro and in vivo. Based on the results obtained, we came to the conclusion that the astrocytic syncytium formed by GJ-associated astrocytes, which is responsible for the regulation of potassium, affects the formation of epileptic activity in astrocytes in vitro and epileptic seizure onset. This effect is probably an important, but not the only, mechanism by which CBX suppresses epileptic activity. It is likely that the mechanisms of selective inhibition of GJs between astrocytes will show important translational benefits in anti-epileptic therapies.