Cholinergic modulation of status epilepticus in the rat barrel field region of primary somatosensory cortex

TRP channels and neural persistent activity

One of the integrative properties of the nervous system is its capability to, by transient motor commands or brief sensory stimuli, evoke persistent neuronal changes, mainly as a sustained, tonic action potential firing. This neural activity, named persistent activity, is found in a good number of brain regions and is thought to be a neural substrate for short-term storage and accumulation of sensory or motor information [1]. Examples of this persistent neural activity have been reported in prefrontal [2] and entorhinal [3] cortices, as part of the neural mechanisms involved in short-term working memory [4]. Interestingly, the general organization of the motor systems assumes the presence of bursts of short-lasting motor commands encoding movement characteristics such as velocity, duration, and amplitude, followed by a maintained tonic firing encoding the position at which the moving appendage should be maintained [5, 6]. Generation of qualitatively similar sustained discharges have also been found in spinal and supraspinal regions in relation to pain processing [7, 8]. Thus, persistent neural activity seems to be necessary for both behavioral (positions of fixation) and cognitive (working memory) processes. Persistent firing mechanisms have been proposed to involve the participation of a non-specific cationic current (CAN current) mainly mediated by activation of TRPC channels. Because the function and generation of persistent activity is still poorly understood, here we aimed to review and discuss the putative role of TRP-like channels on its generation and/or maintenance.

Mechanisms of status epilepticus: an evidence-based review

(1) Status epilepticus is a significant health problem that is under-recognized, yet is associated with major morbidity and mortality. (2) Mechanisms accounting for status epilepticus emergence from a single seizure, and for prolonged status epilepticus duration, remain unclear. (3) No randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses were found in any of the databases searched regarding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of status epilepticus in humans. (4) Ongoing and future research is likely to more clearly define the pathogenetic mechanisms of status epilepticus. This, in turn, is likely to encourage better treatment 'targeting' for particular aspects of the condition.