Uptake of GABA and Activity of GABA Transaminase in Blood Platelets from Children with Absence Epilepsy |
| |
Authors: | Rainesalo Sirpa Eriksson Kai Saransaari Pirjo Keränen Tapani |
| |
Institution: | Brain Research Center, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. sirpa.rainesalo@pshp.fi |
| |
Abstract: | Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a well-defined generalized epilepsy syndrome clinically characterized by frequent absence seizures. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of GABA transaminase (GABA-T) and the kinetic parameters of GABA uptake in platelets from patients with CAE. We studied 13 patients with CAE and eight sex- and age-matched controls. The mean activity of GABA-T was lower in patients with CAE than in controls (1.22+/-0.05 vs. 1.75+/-0.10 micromol/min/kg protein). The capacity of GABA uptake into the platelets was higher in patients using valproate (0.66+/-0.09 micromol/min/kg protein), but not in those using ethosuximide (0.34+/-0.05 micromol/min/kg protein), when compared to controls (0.26+/-0.06 micromol/min/kg protein). The affinity of the transporters was not altered. The observed peripheral alterations may indicate impaired function of brain GABAergic systems in children with absence epilepsy. |
| |
Keywords: | Blood platelets childhood absence epilepsy GABA transaminase GABA uptake neurotransmitters |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |