Bastareche Lean Leonel D.

BSN 4-I

What Causes Seizure in Focal Epilepsy?

ScienceDaily (Apr. 27, 2010) — In focal epilepsy, seizures are generated by a localized,
synchronous neuronal electrical discharge that may spread to large portions of the brain. In spite
of intense research in the field of epilepsy, a key question remains unanswered: what are the
earliest cellular events leading to the initiation of a focal seizure? Elucidating this issue is of
paramount importance both for understanding the pathophysiology of focal epilepsies and for the
development of new pharmacological strategies for drug-resistant forms of these disorders.

Publishing next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology, a new study reveals that
early activation of astroglia, the main population of glial cells in the brain, by hyperactive
neurons is one of the crucial events that predisposes neurons nearby to the generation of an
epileptic discharge.

By monitoring the activity of neurons and astroglia by simultaneous single or dual patch-clamp
recordings, field potential recordings, and Ca2+ signal imaging in different experimental models
of epilepsy, Giorgio Carmignoto and colleagues at the National Research Council, Italy, found
that an episode of hyperactivity in a restricted group of neurons massively activates nearby
astrocytes. Activated astrocytes, in turn, signal back to neurons and potentiate hypersynchronized
neuronal activity. In conditions of enhanced excitability, this astrocyte feedback signal drives
neurons towards the seizure-like discharge threshold. Accordingly, selective inhibition or
stimulation of astrocyte Ca2+ signalling reduced or enhanced, respectively, seizure discharge
generation. Epileptic discharge, in turn, triggers a second activation of astrocytes that may favour
seizure propagation.

In summary, this study reveals that a recurrent excitatory loop between neurons and astrocytes
developing at restricted brain sites promotes and sustains epileptic seizures. This neuron-
astrocyte interaction may represent a novel target for the development of effective therapeutic
strategies to control epilepsy and target drug-resistant forms of the condition.

This work was supported by grants from the European Community 7th Framework Program
(NeuroGlia, HEALTH-F2-2007-202167), Telethon Italy (GGP07278), and CARIPARO
foundation. MGG was also supported by the MEC (Spain).
Bastareche Lean Leonel D. BSN 4-I

What Causes Seizure in Focal Epilepsy?

Reaction:

Symptoms of seizures depend on the type of seizure, ranging from a hardly noticed few second
mental distraction to a total full blown epileptic seizure involving all extremities and muscle
groups leading to loss of consciousness. This article talks about seizure where reveals that a
recurrent excitatory loop between neurons and astrocytes developing at restricted brain sites
promotes and sustains epileptic seizures. This neuron-astrocyte interaction may represent a novel
target for the development of effective therapeutic strategies to control epilepsy and target drug-
resistant forms of the condition. The treatment includes; The medications used to treat patients
with epilepsy are called anticonvulsants. Many of these drugs are available and each has a
different mechanism of action, but all serve to reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures. These
medications can be given for long periods of time. When a patient is having a seizure we must
always remember the following:

Keep calm and reassure other people who may be nearby; Don't hold the person down or try to
stop his movements; Time the seizure with your watch; Clear the area around the person of
anything hard or sharp; Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make breathing
difficult; Put something flat and soft, like a folded jacket, under the head; Turn him or her gently
onto one side. This will help keep the airway clear; do not try to force the mouth open with any
hard implement or with fingers. A person having a seizure cannot swallow his tongue. Efforts to
hold the tongue down can injure teeth or jaw; Don't attempt artificial respiration except in the
unlikely event that a person does not start breathing again after the seizure has stopped; Stay with
the person until the seizure ends naturally; Be friendly and reassuring as consciousness returns;
Offer to call a taxi, friend or relative to help the person get home if he seems confused or unable
to get home by himself.