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Evaluation of Spinal Inhibitory Activity in Epilepsy by the H Wave Recovery Curve
Author(s) -
MANIKAL M. D.,
SIMPSON J. A.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - Spanish
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1973.tb03966.x
Subject(s) - inhibitory postsynaptic potential , anticonvulsant drugs , h reflex , epilepsy , neuroscience , spinal cord , anticonvulsant , psychology , reflex , medicine
SUMMARY Using the H reflex recovery curve as a measure of spinal motoneurone excitability no significant difference was found between 25 epileptic patients and 24 “controls”. Our preliminary findings suggest that there is no abnormality in the inhibitory mechanisms of the spinal cord in the epileptic subject. The implication of this finding in relation to the concept that a generalised disorder of inhibitory transmitter function might contribute to epilepsy is discussed. It remains possible that the GABA‐media‐ted inhibitory neurones may be selectively involved in the epileptic. There was suggestive evidence that motoneurone excitability was depressed by anticonvulsant drugs. The possible mechanism of this effect and site of action are briefly discussed. ABSTRACT Using the H reflex recovery curve as a measure of spinal motoneurone excitability no difference was found between 25 epileptic patients and 24 “controls”. There was suggestive evidence that motoneurone excitability was depressed by anticonvulsant drugs. RÉSUMÉ En utilisant la courbe ďexcitabilité du réflexe H comme mesure de ľexcitabilité des motoneurones spinaux, on n'a pas trouvé de différence entre 25 sujets épileptiques et 24 sujets de contrôle. II y avait des données qui suggéraient que ľexcitabilité des motoneurones était déprimee par les produits anti‐épileptiques. ZUSAMMENFASSING Die Erriblungskurve des H‐Reflex als Mass fur die Reizbarkeit der spinalen motoneurone ergab kein Unterschied zwischen 25 epileptischen Patienten und 24 Kontroll‐personen. Nach Gabe von Antikonvulsiva war die Erregbarkeit der Motoneurone durch kurze Reizintervalle jedoch vermindert. RESUME Utilizando el reflejo H como medida de excitabilidad de las motoneuronas espinales, no se observan diferencias significativas entre 25 enfermos epilépticos y 24 controles. Los resultados preliminares hacen creer que en el sujeto epiléptico no existen anomalías en los mecanismos inhibitorios de la médula espinal. A la vista de estos datos se discute el papel que un transtorno generalizado de la funcion inhibidora‐transmisora pueda tener en la epilepsia. Existe la posibilidad de que las neuronas inhibidas por los GABA‐mediadores sean selectivamente implicadas en el proceso epileptico. Hay pruebas evidentes de que la excitabilidad de la motoneurona se depri‐me por las drogas anticonvulsivantes.