Uric acid is released in the brain during seizure activity and increases severity of seizures in a mouse model for acute limbic seizures.

This study aimed to unravel the contribution of uric acid to seizure generation in a mouse model for acute limbic seizures. We measured extracellular levels of uric acid in the brain and modulated them using complementary pharmacological and genetic tools. Local extracellular uric acid levels increased three to four times during acute limbic seizures and peaked between 50 and 100min after kainic acid infusion. Manipulating uric acid levels through administration of allopurinol or knock-out of urate oxidase significantly altered the number of generalized seizures, decreasing and increasing them by a twofold respectively. Taken together, our results consistently show that uric acid is released during limbic seizures and suggest that uric acid facilitates seizure generalization. PMID: 26774005 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26774005?dopt=Abstract

Source: Experimental Neurology - January 7, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Thyrion L, Raedt R, Portelli J, Van Loo P, Wadman WJ, Glorieux G, Lambrecht B, Janssens S, Vonck K, Boon P Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research