Role of Serotonin in Epilepsy
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1
University of Malta, Physiology and Biochemistry, Malta
Studies in experimental models have showed a potential role for serotonergic transmission in epilepsy suggesting serotonin receptors (5-HTRs) as promising candidate as target for new antiepileptic drugs. Indeed, 5-HT is known to regulate a wide variety of focal and generalized seizures, including absence epilepsy both in human and in animal models. In particular, agents that elevate extracellular 5-HT levels, such as 5-hydroxytryptophan and 5-HT reuptake blockers, inhibit both focal (limbic) and generalized seizures. Conversely, depletion of brain 5-HT lowers the threshold to audiogenically, chemically and electrically evoked convulsions. More recently, increased threshold to kainic acid-induced seizures was observed in mice with genetically increased 5-HT levels. The serotonergic system is very complex and several receptor subtypes may be relevant to epilepsy. At least 14 distinct G protein–coupled 5-HTR and one ligand-gated ion channel receptor (5-HT3) are divided into seven distinct classes (5-HT1 to 5-HT7). 5-HT2A/2CRs are the major focus of this talk. Early findings showing that mice lacking the 5-HT2CR are extremely susceptible to audiogenic seizures and are prone to spontaneous death from seizures will be presented together to new experimental evidence in different animal models of epilepsy, suggesting that serotonergic neurotransmission mediated by 5-HT2CR subtype suppresses neuronal network hyperexcitability and seizure activity.
Keywords:
serotonin receptors,
absence epilepsy,
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy,
extrasynaptic GABAa receptor,
Glutamates
Conference:
4th Conference of the Mediterrarnean Neuroscience Society, Istanbul, Türkiye, 30 Sep - 3 Oct, 2012.
Presentation Type:
Symposium
Topic:
Abstracts
Citation:
Di Giovanni
G
(2013). Role of Serotonin in Epilepsy.
Conference Abstract:
4th Conference of the Mediterrarnean Neuroscience Society.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.210.00023
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Received:
26 Jan 2013;
Published Online:
11 Apr 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Prof. Giuseppe Di Giovanni, University of Malta, Physiology and Biochemistry, Msida, Malta, giuseppe.digiovanni@um.edu.mt