Adrenergic receptor system as a pharmacological target in the treatment of epilepsy (Review)

Epilepsy is a complex and common neurological disorder characterized by spontaneous and recurrent seizures, affecting ~75 million individuals worldwide. Numerous studies have been conducted to develop new pharmacological drugs for the effective treatment of epilepsy. In recent years, numerous experimental and clinical studies have focused on the role of the adrenergic receptor (AR) system in the regulation of epileptogenesis, seizure susceptibility and convulsions. α₁-ARs (α_1A, α_1B and α_1D), α₂-ARs (α_2A, α_2B and α_2C) and β-ARs (β₁, β₂ and β₃), known to have convulsant or anticonvulsant effects, have been isolated. Norepinephrine (NE), the key endogenous agonist of ARs, is considered to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of epileptic seizures. However, the effects of NE on different ARs have not been fully elucidated. Although the activation of some AR subtypes produces conflicting results, the activation of α₁, α₂ and β receptor subtypes, in particular, produces anticonvulsant effects. The present review focuses on NE and ARs involved in epileptic seizure formation and discusses therapeutic approaches.