Changes of cortical epileptic afterdischarges under the influence of convulsant drugs

The Potential of Caffeine for Functional Modification from Cortical Synapses to Neuron Networks in the Brain

“…Blockade of adenosine receptors by caffeine can thus occasionally generate overactivity at excitatory synapses [2,47]. In hippocampal CA3 in guinea pigs, blockade of A1 receptors by caffeine generates paroxysmal depolarizing shifts, and the underlying mechanisms may be increased by intracellular cAMP and Ca 2+ influxes [62,63].…”

Single tonic–clonic seizure after energy drink abuse

“…Moreover, seizure onset may have been facilitated by the concomitant intake of caffeine. Indeed, caffeine, a methylxanthine derivative, has been reported not only to be proconvulsant in animal models of epilepsy induced by chemical convulsants [4][5][6] but also to increase seizure frequency in patients with epilepsy [12,13]. Although the precise molecular mechanism of the proconvulsant action of caffeine remains unclear, its psychoactive effect is probably due to the antagonizing effect on adenosine A1 and A2A receptors [14].…”

“…Caffeine, a nonselective antagonist of adenosine receptors, is the main active ingredient in the majority of energy drinks, and it is documented to produce seizures per se [4,5], exerting pro-convulsive effects in vitro [6]. Taurine appears to have multiple functions in the brain as a neurotransmitter, a neuro-protective agent and a potent regulator for intracellular calcium homeostasis [7].…”

The use of radiotelemetry to evaluate electrographic seizures in rats with kainate-induced epilepsy

“…Video monitoring allows analysis of the different types of behavioral seizures, but seizures with minimal or equivocal behavioral components (i.e., subconvulsive electrographic seizures that have few clinically visible signs) can be difficult to detect with video monitoring alone. Studies from several labs have begun to examine the chronic electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in the hippocampus and other seizure-prone areas during status epilepticus and/or the subsequent development of EEG and behavioral seizures in chronic models (Bertram, 1997;Bertram andCornett, 1993, 1994;Bertram et al, 1997;Koryntova et al, 2002;Mazarati et al, 2002;Medvedev and Willoughby, 1999;Medvedev et al, 2000;Nissinen et al, 2000) using a tethered recording system , where the animal is connected by a cable to a recording system. Although tethered animals are in many ways "freely behaving," the recording cable may restrict some aspects of their behavior.…”