M. Dragunow
Dec 31, 1988
Citations
6
Influential Citations
200
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Progress in Neurobiology
Abstract
Adenosine is a powerful neuromodulator that has a range of functions in various cells and tissues throughout the body. In the brain adenosine controls many varied processes through a range of receptors. Research over the past 25 years has implicated adenosine, acting predominantly through the A1 receptor, in seizure control and epilepsy. Most of this work has utilized animal models and there are still only a handful of studies in humans. In this article, I will focus on specific aspects of the role of adenosine in epilepsy, in particular its role in terminating seizures and preventing status epilepticus, a prolonged and neurologically dangerous seizure state. I will also discuss the few reports that have studied adenosine in human epilepsy in an attempt to bridge the gap between pre-clinical studies and the clinic. The great challenge for researchers is to translate knowledge about adenosine and epilepsy from the lab to the clinic to develop new medications to treat people suffering from epilepsy and status epilepticus.