Amygdala gene expression of NMDA and GABA(A)  receptors in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of partial epilepsy and affects 40% of the patients. Seizures arising from the mesial temporal lobe structures (i.e., amygdala and hippocampus) are common, whereas neocortical seizures are rare. In recent years, many studies aimed to identify the pattern of gene expression of neurotransmitters involved in molecular mechanisms of epilepsy. We used real-time PCR to quantify the expression of GABA(A) (subunits α1, β1, β2) and NMDA (subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B) receptor genes in amygdalae of 27 patients with TLE and 14 amygdalae from autopsy controls. The NR1 subunit was increased in patients with epilepsy when compared with controls. No differences were found in expression of NMDA subunits NR2A and NR2B or in α1, β1, and β2 subunits of GABA(A) receptors. Our results suggest that the NR1 subunit of NMDA receptors is involved in the amygdala hyperexcitability in some of the patients with TLE.
de Moura
José Carlos
JC
Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), SP, Brazil.
Tirapelli
Daniela P C
DP
Neder
Luciano
L
Saggioro
Fabiano P
FP
Sakamoto
Americo Ceiki
AC
Velasco
Tonicarlo R
TR
Panepucci
Rodrigo A
RA
Leite
João Pereira
JP
Assirati Júnior
João Alberto
JA
Colli
Benedicto Oscar
BO
Carlotti Júnior
Carlos Gilberto
CG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
C409466:NR1 NMDA receptor; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate