Recent Advances in Epilepsy Research

Yan Yang, Wayne N. Frankel (auth.), Devin K. Binder, Helen E. Scharfman (eds.)9780306478604, 9781417562268, 0306478609

Epilepsy research has entered an exciting phase as advances in molecular analysis have supplemented in vitro and in vivo electrophysiologic and phenotypic characterization. Recent Advances inEpilepsy Research sets forth a series of chapter reviews by researchers involved in these advances. This volume is a composite profile of some exciting recent investigations in select areas of enquiry.
Key features: neurogenetics of seizure disorders, new developments in cellular and molecular neurobiology of seizure disorders, the role of growth factors in seizures, new advances in the roles of metabotropic glutamate receptors and GABA receptors and transporters, gap junctions, neuroimmunology of epilepsy, malformations of cortical development, neurogenesis, new animal models of epilepsy and the use of brain stimulation to treat epilepsy. This book should be of interest to a wide variety of audiences, including graduate students in neurobiology and related disciplines, neuroscientists, medical students, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and industry including pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies. There are many ideas in this book that will lead ingenious innovators in academia and industry to develop new and better therapies.

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Table of contents :
Front Matter….Pages i-xvii
Genetic Approaches to Studying Mouse Models of Human Seizure Disorders….Pages 1-11
Integrins, Synaptic Plasticity and Epileptogenesis….Pages 12-33
The Role of BDNF in Epilepsy and Other Diseases of the Mature Nervous System….Pages 34-56
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in Seizures:….Pages 57-68
Plasticity Mechanisms Underlying mGluR-Induced Epileptogenesis….Pages 69-75
Role of the GABA Transporter in Epilepsy….Pages 76-91
GABA and Its Receptors in Epilepsy….Pages 92-103
Role of the Depolarizing GABA Response in Epilepsy….Pages 104-109
Gap Junctions, Fast Oscillations and the Initiation of Seizures….Pages 110-122
Functional Role of Proinflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Seizures….Pages 123-133
Using the Immune System to Target Epilepsy….Pages 134-144
Cortical Dysplasia and Epilepsy: Animal Models….Pages 145-174
Malformations of Cortical Development: Molecular Pathogenesis and Experimental Strategies….Pages 175-191
Functional Implications of Seizure-Induced Neurogenesis….Pages 192-212
Febrile Seizures and Mechanisms of Epileptogenesis: Insights from an Animal Model….Pages 213-225
The Tetanus Toxin Model of Chronic Epilepsy….Pages 226-238
Brain Stimulation As a Therapy for Epilepsy….Pages 239-247