Amygdala gene expression of NMDA and GABA_A receptors in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of partial epilepsy and affects 40% of the patients. Seizures arising from the mesial temporal lobe structures (i.e., amygdala and hippocampus) are common, whereas neocortical seizures are rare. In recent years, many studies aimed to identify the pattern of gene expression of neurotransmitters involved in molecular mechanisms of epilepsy. We used real-time PCR to quantify the expression of GABA A (subunits a1, b1, b2) and NMDA (subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B) receptor genes in amygdalae of 27 patients with TLE and 14 amygdalae from autopsy controls. The NR1 subunit was increased in patients with epilepsy when compared with controls. No differences were found in expression of NMDA subunits NR2A and NR2B or in a1, b1, and b2 subunits of GABA A receptors. Our results suggest that the NR1 subunit of NMDA receptors is involved in the amygdala hyperexcitability in some of the patients with TLE. V V C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Protracted dendritic growth in the typically developing human amygdala and increased spine density in young ASD brains

“…One noteworthy exclusion criterion for our tissue was seizure as the primary cause of death. Seizures are a co‐morbid feature of ASD (Keller, Basta, Salerno, & Elia, ), often originating in the temporal lobe (de Moura et al, ) and have been shown to impact dendritic morphology and spine density (Yilmazer‐Hanke et al, ; Aliashkevich et al, ). In the present study, we received tissue from multiple brain banks and only had clinical records for a handful of ASD cases (3 of 16), therefore not enough to analyze our findings in terms of correlating spine density with symptom severity, although we hope to include this in future studies.…”

Enhanced endogenous activation of NMDA receptors in pyramidal neurons of hippocampal tissues from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: A mechanism of hyper excitation

“…In pilocarpine rat model of epilepsy, which closely resembles MTLE in humans, it has been shown that there is time-dependent increase in the protein levels of NR1 subunit of NMDA receptor (Lopes et al, 2013). It has also been reported that in brain tissues obtained from patients with MTLE there is up regulation of NR1 subunit, which contributes to the hyperexcitable neuronal network (de Moura et al, 2012). A study involving tissue specimens obtained from patients with glioma displaying tumour-associated seizures suggests higher glutamate concentration and increased expression of glutamate transporters (Yuen et al, 2012) further supporting the role of enhanced endogenous glutamate receptor activity in seizure generation.…”

Hippocampal Low-Frequency Stimulation Decreased cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein and Increased GABAA Receptor Subunit α1 in Amygdala-Kindled Pharmacoresistant Epileptic Rats

“…☉ indicates P<0.05, ★ indicates P<0.01). Research Guofeng Wu [37]. Although traditional surgery by selectively ablating the anterior lobe or the amygdalahippocampus could achieve favourable results, up to 30% of TLE cases are unsuitable for resective neurosurgery [3].…”