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Metabotropic glutamate receptors in the thalamocortical network: Strategic targets for the treatment of absence epilepsy
Author(s) -
Ngomba Richard Teke,
Santolini Ines,
Salt Thomas E.,
Ferraguti Francesco,
Battaglia Giuseppe,
Nicoletti Ferdinando,
van Luijtelaar Gilles
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03082.x
Subject(s) - neuroscience , metabotropic glutamate receptor , epilepsy , metabotropic receptor , glutamate receptor , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neurotransmission , receptor , biology , medicine , psychology
Summary Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are positioned at synapses of the thalamocortical network that underlie the development of spike‐and‐wave discharges (SWDs) associated with absence epilepsy. The modulatory role of individual mGlu receptor subtypes on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the cortico‐thalamo‐cortical circuitry makes subtype‐selective mGlu receptor ligands potential candidates as novel antiabsence drugs. Some of these compounds are under clinical development for the treatment of numerous neurologic and psychiatric disorders, and might be soon available for clinical studies in patients with absence seizures refractory to conventional medications. Herein we review the growing evidence that links mGlu receptors to the pathophysiology of pathologic SWDs moving from the anatomic localization and function of distinct mGlu receptor subtypes in the cortico‐thalamo‐cortical network to in vivo studies in mouse and rat models of absence epilepsy.