This study aims to investigate the potential effects of anticonvulsant drugs on neuropeptides (galanin and neuropeptide Y) and neurotrophic factors (BDNF and NGF) in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindled seizures in the rat.
The goal of this study was achieved by (1) determining neuroanatomical localization of galanin in zebrafish lateral pallium, which is considered to be the zebrafish homologue of the mammalian hippocampus, the brain region essential for initiation of seizures, and (2) testing the anticonvulsant effect of galanin overexpression.
NAX 810-2, a galanin receptor subtype 2 (GalR2)-preferring galanin analog, possesses 15-fold greater affinity for GalR2 over GalR1 and protects against seizures in the mouse 6 Hz, corneal kindling, and Frings audiogenic seizure models.
Given the availability of galanin agonists which inhibit seizures, our findings could potentially have direct implications for the development of anti-epileptic treatment.
In particular, transduction of neuropeptide genes, such as galanin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in specific brain areas in experimental models of seizures resulted in significant anticonvulsant effects.
Several candidate genes such as neuropeptide Y and galanin have been demonstrated in preclinical studies to have a positive effect on seizure activity.
Transduction of neuropeptide genes such as galanin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in specific brain areas in experimental models of seizures resulted in significant anticonvulsant effects.
The seizure suppression effect of galanin expression in the hippocampus by viral vectors may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment and management of intractable seizures with focal onset such as temporal lobe epilepsy.
The neuropeptide galanin can modulate seizure activity in vivo, and the laminar protein fibronectin is usually secreted through a constitutive pathway.