System xc- (Sxc-) is a cellular cystine/glutamate antiporter that is constitutively expressed by astrocytes in the central nervous system. It functions in the maintenance of extracellular glutamate levels and serves an important role in controlling synaptic strength and neuronal excitability. Previously, we determined that mice globally null for Sxc- (SLC7a11sut/sut mice) had lower convulsive seizure thresholds ? that is, had a greater percentage of convulsive seizures ? than their wild type (SLC7a11+/+) littermates following acute challenge with the chemoconvulsant pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Herein, we explore whether this excitability phenotype occurs in Sxc- astrocyte-conditional null mice

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Additional Support Provided by: SOURCE Grant

College of Arts & Sciences 2020, Natural Science & Engineering Projects 2020, 2020