T-type Ca2 + channels in absence epilepsy

Eunji Cheong, Hee Sup Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Low-voltage-activated T-type Ca2 + channels are highly expressed in the thalamocortical circuit, suggesting that they play a role in this brain circuit. Indeed, low-threshold burst firing mediated by T-type Ca2 + channels has long been implicated in the synchronization of the thalamocortical circuit. Over the past few decades, the conventional view has been that rhythmic burst firing mediated by T-type channels in both thalamic reticular nuclie (TRN) and thalamocortical (TC) neurons are equally critical in the generation of thalamocortical oscillations during sleep rhythms and spike-wave-discharges (SWDs). This review broadly investigates recent studies indicating 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. T-type channels in TC neurons are an essential component of SWD generation, whereas the requirement for TRN T-type channels in SWD generation remains controversial at least in the GBL model of absence seizures. 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. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium channels.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1560-1571
Number of pages12
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
Volume1828
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Jul

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Grants: This work was supported by a fund from the Institute for Basic Science, and Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control ( 2012-0000880 ) and the Basic Science Research Program ( 2012-0004313 ) and Pioneer Research Center Program ( 2012-0001087 ), funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Korea .

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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