Is glutamate a trigger factor in epileptic hyperactivity?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Using Enzyme-based Biosensors to Measure Tonic and Phasic Glutamate in Alzheimer's Mouse Models
Published on: May 3, 2017
Abstract:
The effects of glutamate and aspartate antagonists were studied on limb-jerk frequency and EEG patterns in rats made epileptic by cobalt implantation in the sensorimotor cerebral cortex. The results of this study were as follows: (1) alpha-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (0.055--1.10 mM) decreased or completely prevented the epileptic manifestations. The effect was reversible 30 min after washing with artificial CSF solution. (2) DL-Pyroglutamic acid completely abolished the myoclonic jerks and EEG spikes. (3) alpha-Amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid and alpha-D-amino-adipic acid significantly reduced the frequency of epileptic spikes and myoclonic jerks. (4) Other analogs, alpha-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid (0.6 mM), alpha-amino phosphonocaproic acid (0.95), and hydroxy-3-amino pyrrolidone-2 were without effect. (5) Glutamate itself did not decrease the epileptic manifestations.
More Related Videos
09:07Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
07:01Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
Published on: May 16, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
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...