Functional characterization of voltage-gated sodium channels associated with human idiopathic epilepsies

Brain voltage-gated sodium channels are complexes of a pore-forming alpha subunit and auxiliary beta1 and beta2 subunits with modulation effects. They play critical roles in initiation and generation of action potentials. Gene defects in these channels are identified associating with idiopathic epilepsy. Four sodium channel mutations related to idiopathic epilepsies and the modifications of sodium channel gating by beta subunits were functionally characterized. Electrophysiological, immunocytochemical investigations in the primary cultured rat cortical neurons established stable experimental process for the further studies in cultured neurons and demonstrated various classes of cortical neuron