title: T-type Ca2+ channels in absence epilepsy.
abstract: Absence epilepsy accompanies the paroxysmal oscillations in the thalamocortical circuit referred as spike and wave discharges (SWDs). Low-threshold burst firing mediated by T-type Ca(2+) channels highly expressed in both inhibitory thalamic reticular nuclei (TRN) and excitatory thalamocortical (TC) neurons has been correlated with the generation of SWDs. A generally accepted view has been that rhythmic burst firing mediated by T-type channels in both TRN and TC neurons are equally critical in the generation of thalamocortical oscillations during sleep rhythms and SWDs. This review examined recent studies on the T-type channels in absence epilepsy which leads to an idea that even though both TRN and TC nuclei are required for thalamocortical oscillations, the contributions of T-type channels to TRN and TC neurons are not equal in the genesis of sleep spindles and SWDs. Accumulating evidence revealed a crucial role of TC T-type channels in SWD generation. However, the role of TRN T-type channels in SWD generation remains controversial. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the functional consequences of modulating each T-type channel subtype could guide the development of therapeutic tools for absence seizures while minimizing side effects on physiological thalamocortical oscillations.
authors: Department of Biotechnology, Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, eunjicheong@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors: Eunji
authors: E
authors: Cheong
authors: Hee-Sup
authors: HS
authors: Shin
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000639:trends; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type