Open AccessThe Yin and Yang of the H‐Channel and Its Role in Epilepsy
Author(s) -
Poolos Nicholas P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
epilepsy currents
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.415
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1535-7511
pISSN - 1535-7597
DOI - 10.1111/j.1535-7597.2004.04101.x
Subject(s) - epilepsy , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , ion channel , hyperpolarization (physics) , voltage gated ion channel , potassium channel , chemistry , biophysics , biology , biochemistry , receptor , stereochemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Voltage-gated ion channels clearly are involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, with evidence implicating derangement of Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) voltage-gated channels, in both inherited and acquired forms of epilepsy ((1)). A newcomer to this list of ion channels involved in epilepsy is the hyperpolarization-activated cation channel or h-channel (otherwise known as I(h) or the pacemaker channel). This voltage-gated channel now is known to play a significant role in regulating neuronal excitability and recently has been shown to be modulated by seizures. Unlike other channels implicated in epilepsy whose function in normal neurons can clearly be labeled "excitatory" (Na(+) and Ca(2+)) or "inhibitory" (K(+)), the unique physiologic behavior of the h-channel allows it to both augment and decrease the excitability of neurons. Thus the role of I(h) in epilepsy, at present, is controversial and is a growing area of intense investigation ((2)(3)).