Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action01:26

Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Glutamate receptors and schizophrenia.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2011
Same author

Brain regional amino acid levels in seizure susceptible rats: Changes related to sound-induced seizures.

Neurochemistry international·2010
Same author

Actions of whole and fractionated indian cobra (naja naja) venom on skeletal muscle.

British journal of pharmacology and chemotherapy·2008
Same author

Why and when are seizures bad for the brain?

Trends in pharmacological sciences·2001
Same author

Anticonvulsant activity of a mGlu(4alpha) receptor selective agonist, (1S,3R,4S)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid.

European journal of pharmacology·2001
Same author

Anti-epileptic activity of group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists (--)-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate (LY379268) and (--)-2-thia-4-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate (LY389795).

Neuropharmacology·2001
Same journal

Raising resilience: A parenting intervention for families affected by childhood epilepsy.

Epilepsia·2026
Same journal

Epileptogenic lesions in the Australian epilepsy project: A harmonized 3-T magnetic resonance imaging protocol and its diagnostic yield.

Epilepsia·2026
Same journal

Responsible use of artificial intelligence in peer-reviewed publications in epilepsy.

Epilepsia·2026
Same journal

Altered autonomic balance drives the increase in cardiac output and arterial pressure during convulsive seizures in nonanesthetized sheep.

Epilepsia·2026
Same journal

Diagnostic yield and copy number variants findings in 219 adult patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.

Epilepsia·2026
Same journal

Prolonged fenfluramine use in open-label studies of Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut syndromes: Long-term safety, tolerability, patient global functioning, and considerations for interpreting effectiveness.

Epilepsia·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

Neurotransmission in epilepsy.

B S Meldrum1

  • 1Institute of Epileptology, Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

Epilepsia
|October 13, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Impaired inhibitory feedback involving gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contributes to focal epilepsy excitability. Enhancing GABAergic function or blocking glutamate receptors shows potential as anticonvulsant therapies for epilepsy treatment.

More Related Videos

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays
10:24

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays

Published on: May 15, 2018

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays
10:24

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays

Published on: May 15, 2018

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Epilepsy Research
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Focal epilepsy is characterized by enhanced neuronal excitability, potentially linked to impaired gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inhibitory feedback.
  • Dysfunction in excitatory input to GABAergic interneurons and heightened sensitivity of excitatory receptors, particularly N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, are observed in epilepsy models and human patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of GABAergic and glutamatergic systems in focal epilepsy.
  • To review the mechanisms of action for GABA-enhancing and glutamate receptor antagonist drugs as potential antiepileptic treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing evidence on GABAergic and glutamatergic mechanisms in focal epilepsy.
  • Analysis of drug classes targeting GABA receptors, GABA-transaminase, GABA uptake, and glutamate receptors.

Main Results:

  • Drugs enhancing GABA-mediated inhibition, including those interacting with GABA/benzodiazepine (BZD) receptors, inhibiting GABA-transaminase (e.g., vigabatrin), and blocking GABA uptake (e.g., tiagabine), demonstrate anticonvulsant properties.
  • Glutamate receptor antagonists (NMDA and non-NMDA) are effective anticonvulsants in numerous animal epilepsy models.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting GABAergic inhibition is a validated strategy for epilepsy management.
  • The clinical utility of pure glutamate receptor antagonists as antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) requires further investigation.