[Metabotropic glutamate receptors as a possible target of antiepileptic therapy]

Antagonists of glutamate ionotropic receptors exhibit marked anticonvulsant action but also serious side effects, therefore attention is shifted to drugs influencing metabotropic glutamate receptors. These receptors are classified into three groups (I-III) and eight subtypes. Anticonvulsant action in experimental models was demonstrated for antagonists of group I receptors (mGluR1 and mGluR5) as well as for agonists of groups II (mGluR2 and mGluR3) and III (mGluR4, mGluR6, mGluR7 and mGluR8). Preclinical data are far from being complete but clear anticonvulsant action and absence of serious side effects speak in favor of further research.