Priorities in the discovery of the implications of water channels in epilepsy and duchenne muscular dystrophy

In addition to the priority in the discovery of the first water channel protein in the red blood cell membrane the group of Gheorghe Benga in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, also has a world priority in the discovery of the implications of water channel proteins in epilepsy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This priority is briefly presented here. In 1977 Benga and Morariu reported a decreased water permeability of red blood cells in children with idiopathic epilepsy (cases selected by Ileana Benga). This investigation was performed as part of a program of research of hydroelectrolytic alterations in child epilepsy. On the other hand the group of Gheorghe Benga has reported a decreased water permeability of RBC in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These findings were interpreted as an expression of generalized membrane defects affecting water permeability in epilepsy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In recent years this idea was confirmed by reports indicating aquaporin abnormalities in the brain of epileptic patients and in the muscle of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.