The original report of a role for IL-1α in induction, maintenance and propagation of axonal sprouting in an experimental model of neurodegeneration [20] and an association between glial activation and sprouting of mossy fibers in epilepsy [21] is supported by our finding of somewhat elevated synaptophysin levels in combination with high numbers of neuron-associated, IL-1α immunoreactive microglia and elevation of IL-α mRNA and protein levels. The gene discussed is SYP; the disease is epilepsy.