title: Orexin and Epilepsy: Potential Role of REM Sleep.
abstract: Interest in orexin receptor antagonism as a novel mechanism of action against seizures and epilepsy has increased in recent years. Loss of orexinergic activity is associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep onset, and REM sleep is generally protective against seizures. This paper discusses the dynamic modulation of seizure threshold by orexin through a postulated "orexi-cortical" axis in which the specific type of orexinergic activity exquisitely regulates sleep-wake states to modify ascending subcortical influences on cortical synchronization with profound subsequent consequences on seizure threshold. This paper also explores the current state of research into experimental orexinergic modulation of seizure threshold and suggests possible future research directions to fully understand the promise and peril of orexinergic manipulation in seizures and epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcus C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068796:Orexin Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068797:Orexins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068796:Orexin Receptor Antagonists; D000068797:Orexins
keywords: cortical synchronization.; epilepsy; orexin; rapid eye movement sleep; seizures