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Medical Neurobiology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Selected Works

2007

Reviews

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Medical Neurobiology

The Neuropharmacology Of The Ketogenic Diet, Adam Hartman, Maciej Gasior, Elaine Vining, Michael Rogawski Apr 2007

The Neuropharmacology Of The Ketogenic Diet, Adam Hartman, Maciej Gasior, Elaine Vining, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

The ketogenic diet is a valuable therapeutic approach for epilepsy, one in which most clinical experience has been with children. Although the mechanism by which the diet protects against seizures is unknown, there is evidence that it causes effects on intermediary metabolism that influence the dynamics of the major inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter systems in brain. The pattern of protection of the ketogenic diet in animal models of seizures is distinct from that of other anticonvulsants, suggesting that it has a unique mechanism of action. During consumption of the ketogenic diet, marked alterations in brain energy metabolism occur, with ketone …


Molecular Targets For Antiepileptic Drug Development, Brian S. Meldrum, Michael A. Rogawski Dec 2006

Molecular Targets For Antiepileptic Drug Development, Brian S. Meldrum, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

This review considers how recent advances in the physiology of ion channels and other potential molecular targets, in conjunction with new information on the genetics of idiopathic epilepsies, can be applied to the search for improved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Marketed AEDs predominantly target voltage-gated cation channels (the alpha subunits of voltage-gated Na+ channels and also T-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels) or influence GABA-mediated inhibition. Recently, alpha2-delta voltage-gated Ca2+ channel subunits and the SV2A synaptic vesicle protein have been recognized as likely targets. Genetic studies of familial idiopathic epilepsies have identified numerous genes associated with diverse epilepsy syndromes, including genes encoding Na+ …