Mol Neurobiol DOI 10.1007/s12035-014-8669-x
Neuropeptides as Targets for the Development of Anticonvulsant Drugs Elke Clynen & Ann Swijsen & Marjolein Raijmakers & Govert Hoogland & Jean-Michel Rigo
Received: 26 November 2013 / Accepted: 27 February 2014 # The Author(s) 2014. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Abstract Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. These seizures are due to abnormal excessive and synchronous neuronal activity in the brain caused by a disruption of the delicate balance between excitation and inhibition. Neuropeptides can contribute to such misbalance by modulating the effect of classical excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. In this review, we discuss 21 different neuropeptides that have been linked to seizure disorders. These neuropeptides show an aberrant expression and/or release in animal seizure models and/or epilepsy patients. Many of these endogenous peptides, like adrenocorticotropic hormone, angiotensin, cholecystokinin, cortistatin, dynorphin, galanin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y, neurotensin, somatostatin, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone, are able to suppress seizures in the brain. Other neuropeptides, such as argininevasopressine peptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone, enkephalin, β-endorphin, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, and tachykinins have proconvulsive properties. For oxytocin and melanin-concentrating hormone both proE. Clynen (*) : A. Swijsen : M. Raijmakers : J.
Neuropeptides as Targets for the Development of Anticonvulsant Drugs Elke Clynen & Ann Swijsen & Marjolein Raijmakers & Govert Hoogland & Jean-Michel Rigo
Received: 26 November 2013 / Accepted: 27 February 2014 # The Author(s) 2014. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Abstract Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. These seizures are due to abnormal excessive and synchronous neuronal activity in the brain caused by a disruption of the delicate balance between excitation and inhibition. Neuropeptides can contribute to such misbalance by modulating the effect of classical excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. In this review, we discuss 21 different neuropeptides that have been linked to seizure disorders. These neuropeptides show an aberrant expression and/or release in animal seizure models and/or epilepsy patients. Many of these endogenous peptides, like adrenocorticotropic hormone, angiotensin, cholecystokinin, cortistatin, dynorphin, galanin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y, neurotensin, somatostatin, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone, are able to suppress seizures in the brain. Other neuropeptides, such as argininevasopressine peptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone, enkephalin, β-endorphin, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, and tachykinins have proconvulsive properties. For oxytocin and melanin-concentrating hormone both proE. Clynen (*) : A. Swijsen : M. Raijmakers : J.
