title: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the treatment of intractable epilepsy.
abstract: Intractable seizures remain a significant therapeutic challenge despite current advances in the treatment of epilepsy. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone, the first neuroendocrine releasing factor to be isolated and fully characterized, was also the first releasing factor investigated as a possible neurotransmitter/neuromodulator outside the hypothalamus. Basic and clinical research has revealed a distinct neuroanatomic distribution and a neurochemical role for thyrotropin-releasing hormone in seizure modulation. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone and selected analogs were reported to have antiepileptic effects in several animal seizure paradigms, including kindling and electroconvulsive shock. Clinically, thyrotropin-releasing hormone treatment has been reported to be efficacious in such intractable epilepsies as infantile spasms, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, myoclonic seizures, and other generalized and refractory partial seizures. Herein, we review evidence that suggests that thyrotropin-releasing hormone and selected thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogs may represent a new class of novel antiepileptic drugs, namely, antiepileptic neuropeptides and provide insights into potential new treatments for the intractable epilepsies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kubek
authors.forename: Bhuwan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D013577:Syndrome; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone