Research Suggests That a Novel Inhibitory Brain Receptor is a Mechanism for Remission of Epilepsy in Adolescence

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More than half of children with epilepsy outgrow their seizures, yet the mechanism underlying this remission is unknown. Now, research led by SUNY Downstate Medical Center shows that, at onset of puberty, the emergence of a novel inhibitory brain receptor, alpha four beta delta, reduces seizure-like activity in a mouse model of epilepsy. Sheryl Smith, MD, professor of physiology and pharmacology at SUNY Downstate, explained, “Seizure-like discharges were three to four-fold greater before puberty and in pubertal mice that lack expression of this receptor. Administration of drugs that selectively enhance inhibition mediated by this receptor further decreased seizure-like activity in this model.” To read more, click here.

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