, et al.Elizabeth Tringham and Suppress Absence Seizures T-Type Calcium Channel Blockers That Attenuate Thalamic Burst Firing Editor's Summary

to the more complicated human condition. Further studies will be needed to determine whether its marked effects in the rat model of absence epilepsy translate Given its in vitro and in vivo activities, Z944 will progress to phase 1 clinical studies to test its safety in humans. duration and cycle frequency. Both compounds were well tolerated in rats. contrast to current first-line drugs for treating absence seizures, Z941 and Z944 also reduced the average seizure epilepsy, both compounds markedly reduced the time spent in seizures and the number of seizures per hour. In preference for inactivated channels (the likely configuration in hyperexcited neurons). In a rat model of absence blockers, termed Z941 and Z944, were identified; Z944 was highly selective for T-type channels and exhibited a assay that monitored calcium influx via a recombinant T-type channel. Two high-affinity T-type calcium channel a starting point, the researchers designed and screened small, focused libraries of compounds in a high-throughput activated T-type calcium channels, to absence seizures. Using the structure of an N-type calcium channel blocker as− propagating neuronal signals, likely play a key role. Several lines of evidence link one type of ion channel, low voltage neuronal activity in certain brain regions. Voltage-gated ion channels, which have crucial functions in generating and Although the root cause of such seizures is not known, they are associated with abnormal, highly synchronous. sought to address this problem by rational drug design.et alseizures are not completely effective. Tringham dangerous if they occur during swimming or driving, for example. Unfortunately, the drugs available for treating such can be−−so named because they involve a sudden, brief absence of consciousness−−apparently mild, these seizures Some epileptic children and adolescents experience ''absence' ' seizures hundreds of times a day. Although To Soothe a Seizur