Excitatory Amino Acids and Epilepsy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. The Limbic System: Neuroanatomical Concepts Relating to Epileptic Phenomena

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Amygdalohippocampal and Amygdalocortical Projections in the Primate Brain

      • D. G. Amaral

      Pages 3-17

   3. Subcortical Projections from the Amygdaloid Complex

      • J. L. Price

      Pages 19-33

   4. Cortical and Subcortical Afferents of the Amygdaloid Complex

      • F. T. Russchen

      Pages 35-52

   5. Putative Amino Acid Transmitters in the Amygdala

      • O. P. Ottersen, B. O. Fischer, E. Rinvik, J. Storm-Mathisen

      Pages 53-66

   6. A Survey of the Anatomy of the Hippocampal Formation, with Emphasis on the Septotemporal Organization of Its Intrinsic and Extrinsic Connections

      • M. P. Witter

      Pages 67-82

   7. Cytochemical Architecture of the Entorhinal Area

      • Ch. Köhler

      Pages 83-98

3. Epileptic Brain Tissue: Neuropathology and Physiology in Animals and Man

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103

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   2. Neuronal and Glial Pathologies: Morphology and Physiology of Human and Monkey Epileptic Foci

      • A. A. Ward Jr.

      Pages 105-113

   3. Metabolic, Morphologic and Electrophysiologic Profiles of Human Temporal Lobe Foci: An Attempt at Correlation

      • T. L. Babb

      Pages 115-125

   4. Endogenous Excitotoxins as Possible Mediators of Ischemic and Hypoglycemic Brain Damage

      • T. Wieloch

      Pages 127-138

   5. Role of the Substantia Nigra in the Kindling Model of Limbic Epilepsy

      • J. O. McNamara, D. W. Bonhaus, C. Shin

      Pages 139-146

   6. Long Term Sequelae of Parenteral Administration of Kainic Acid

      • L. Nitecka, E. Tremblay

      Pages 147-155

   7. Electrophysiology of Epileptic Tissue: What Pathologies are Epileptogenic?

      • P. A. Schwartzkroin, J. E. Franck

      Pages 157-172

4. Excitatory Amino Acids and the Blood-Brain Barrier

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 173-173

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   2. Pathophysiological Aspects of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability in Epileptic Seizures

      • C. Nitsch, G. Goping, I. Klatzo

      Pages 175-189

   3. Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to Excitatory Amino Acids

      • J. M. Lefauconnier, Y. Tayarani, G. Bernard

      Pages 191-198

   4. Limbic Seizures Induced by Systemically Applied Kainic Acid: How Much Kainic Acid Reaches the Brain?

      • M. L. Berger, J.-M. Lefauconnier, E. Tremblay, Y. Ben-Ari

      Pages 199-209

   5. Extravasated Protein as a Cause of Limbic Seizure-Induced Brain Damage: An Evaluation Using Kainic Acid

      • R. E. Ruth

      Pages 211-221

Human epilepsy is a major public health problem affecting approximately 2 persons per 1000. It is particularly frequent in ohildren where convul­ sions may lead to brain damage and subsequent seizure activity in adulthood. Temporal lobe epilepsy (synonyms include limbic epilepsy. psychomotor epilepsy and complex partial epilepsy) is the most devastating form of epilepsy in the adult population since: a) it is often extremely resistant to currently available anticonvulsant drugs (i.e •• it is more resistant than tonico-clonic or grand mal seizures) and b) it includes loss of consciousness. thereby limiting performance of many normal functions and leaving the individual susceptible to bodily injury. It is also associated with nerve cell loss. in particular in the hippocampus and other structures of the temporal lobes. In order to promote an appropriate therapy it is essential to understand the etiology of seizures and its relationship to brain damage. Basic research on epilepsy also provides a very useful vehicle to learn about the way the brain functions under normal conditions. For instance. much of our present understanding of the mechanisms of action of GABA and benzo­ diazepines. control of neuronal activity. etc. has been derived from such stUdies.

• Aspartat
• Glutamat
• amino acid
• brain
• cell
• etiology
• lead
• population
• protein
• receptor
• structure
• synthesis
• therapy

• Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

  Robert Schwarcz

• INSERM-U29, Hôpital de Port-Royal, Paris, France

  Yehezkel Ben-Ari

Policies and ethics