Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Nat Neurosci. 2008 Jul;11(7):816-22. Epub 2008 Jun 8.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read Click here to read
Seizure termination by acidosis depends on ASIC1a.

Ziemann AE, Schnizler MK, Albert GW, Severson MA, Howard MA 3rd, Welsh MJ, Wemmie JA.

Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.

Most seizures stop spontaneously; however, the molecular mechanisms that terminate seizures remain unknown. Observations that seizures reduced brain pH and that acidosis inhibited seizures indicate that acidosis halts epileptic activity. Because acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is exquisitely sensitive to extracellular pH and regulates neuron excitability, we hypothesized that acidosis might activate ASIC1a, which would terminate seizures. Disrupting mouse ASIC1a increased the severity of chemoconvulsant-induced seizures, whereas overexpressing ASIC1a had the opposite effect. ASIC1a did not affect seizure threshold or onset, but shortened seizure duration and prevented seizure progression. CO2 inhalation, long known to lower brain pH and inhibit seizures, required ASIC1a to interrupt tonic-clonic seizures. Acidosis activated inhibitory interneurons through ASIC1a, suggesting that ASIC1a might limit seizures by increasing inhibitory tone. Our results identify ASIC1a as an important element in seizure termination when brain pH falls and suggest both a molecular mechanism for how the brain stops seizures and new therapeutic strategies.

Publication Types:
PMID: 18536711 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC2553357