Ricerc@Sapienza

We compared GABAergic function and neuronal excitability in the hippocampal tissue of seven sporadic MTLE patients with a patient carrying a SCN1A loss-of-function mutation. All had excellent outcome from anterior temporal lobectomy, and neuropathological study always showed characteristic hippocampal sclerosis (Hs). Compared to MTLE patients, there was a more severe impairment of GABAergic transmission, due to the lower GABAergic activity related to the NaV1.1 loss-of-function, in addition to the typical GABA-current rundown, a hallmark of sporadic MTLE.

A variety of evidence suggested that an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission could be one of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of seizures. Understanding the causes of this imbalance may provide essential insight into the basic mechanisms of epilepsy and may uncover novel targets for future drug therapies. Accordingly, GABA is the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS and its receptors (e.g., GABAARs) can still be relevant targets of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
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