Reduced uptake and release of 5-hydroxytryptamine and taurine in the cerebral cortex of epileptic El mice.
Inbred mutant El mice are highly susceptible to convulsive seizures upon 'throwing' stimulation, and the inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and taurine activities appears to be involved in the El mouse seizures. Uptake and release of [3H]5-HT and [3H]taurine into and from cerebral neurocortical slices using a superfusion system were investigated in both non-stimulated and stimulated El mice [El(-), El(+)] and in ddY mice, which do not have a convulsive disposition. Release was defined as 40 mM K+-stimulated release. 5-HT and taurine uptake in El(+) was lower than El(-) but no difference in either uptake was found between ddY and El(-). Release of 5-HT and taurine in El(-) was higher than in ddY whereas their release in El(+) was lower than in El(-). The taurine level in the cerebral neocortex of El(-) and El(+) was higher than in ddY. These results suggest that the synaptic function of the 5-HT and taurine containing neurons is suppressed and that dysfunction of these inhibitory neurons is involved in the seizure susceptibility in the El mice.
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*
D013654:Taurine; D012701:Serotonin; D011188:Potassium