Enhanced tonic GABAA inhibition in typical absence epilepsy.
The cellular mechanisms underlying typical absence seizures, which characterize various idiopathic generalized epilepsies, are not fully understood, but impaired gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic inhibition remains an attractive hypothesis. In contrast, we show here that extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptor-dependent 'tonic' inhibition is increased in thalamocortical neurons from diverse genetic and pharmacological models of absence seizures. Increased tonic inhibition is due to compromised GABA uptake by the GABA transporter GAT-1 in the genetic models tested, and GAT-1 is crucial in governing seizure genesis. Extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors are a requirement for seizures in two of the best characterized models of absence epilepsy, and the selective activation of thalamic extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors is sufficient to elicit both electrographic and behavioral correlates of seizures in normal rats. These results identify an apparently common cellular pathology in typical absence seizures that may have epileptogenic importance and highlight potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of absence epilepsy.
Cope
David W
DW
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Di Giovanni
Giuseppe
G
Fyson
Sarah J
SJ
Orbán
Gergely
G
Errington
Adam C
AC
Lorincz
Magor L
ML
Gould
Timothy M
TM
Carter
David A
DA
Crunelli
Vincenzo
V
D000818:Animals; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology
D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C493415:Slc6a1 protein, rat