The role of catecholamines in seizure susceptibility: new results using genetically engineered mice.
The catecholamines norepinephrine and dopamine are abundant in the CNS, and modulate neuronal excitability via G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. This review covers the history of research concerning the role of catecholamines in modulating seizure susceptibility in animal models of epilepsy. Traditionally, most work on this topic has been anatomical, pharmacological, or physiological in nature. However, the recent advances in transgenic and knockout mouse technology provide new tools to study catecholamines and their roles in seizure susceptibility. New results from genetically engineered mice with altered catecholamine signaling, as well as possibilities for future experiments, are discussed.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Box 357370, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. dzw@genetics.washington.edu
David
D
Weinshenker
Patricia
P
Szot
D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology*
D002395:Catecholamines