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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy
Published on: July 12, 2021
The h-channel: a potential channelopathy in epilepsy?
1Department of Neurology and Regional Epilepsy Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. npoolos@u-washington.edu
Abstract:
Ion channelopathy is a proven cause of inherited human epilepsy, and may play a role in acquired epileptic syndromes as well. Of the many ion channel causes of epilepsy, the h-channel is a potential new addition. H-channels are voltage-gated ion channels with unique biophysical properties. The h-channel exerts a significant modulatory influence on neuronal excitability, and is a target of antiepileptic drugs. Further, its activity is influenced by seizures, raising the question of whether it may play a role in epileptogenesis as well. This review summarizes the evidence for the contribution of h-channels to seizures and epilepsy, and outlines hypotheses concerning the existence of an "h-channelopathy" in human epilepsy.
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