title: Dendritic ion channelopathy in acquired epilepsy.
abstract: Ion channel dysfunction or "channelopathy" is a proven cause of epilepsy in the relatively uncommon genetic epilepsies with Mendelian inheritance. But numerous examples of acquired channelopathy in experimental animal models of epilepsy following brain injury have also been demonstrated. Our understanding of channelopathy has grown due to advances in electrophysiology techniques that have allowed the study of ion channels in the dendrites of pyramidal neurons in cortex and hippocampus. The apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons comprise the vast majority of neuronal surface membrane area, and thus the majority of the neuronal ion channel population. Investigation of dendritic ion channels has demonstrated remarkable plasticity in ion channel localization and biophysical properties in epilepsy, many of which produce hyperexcitability and may contribute to the development and maintenance of the epileptic state. Herein we review recent advances in dendritic physiology and cell biology, and their relevance to epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Regional Epilepsy Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA. npoolos@uw.edu
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Poolos
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053447:Channelopathies / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels