The GABA transporter can reverse with depolarization, causing nonvesicular GABA release. However, this is thought to occur only under pathological conditions. Patch-clamp recordings were made from rat hippocampal neurons in primary cell cultures. Inhibition of GABA transaminase with the anticonvulsant gamma-vinyl GABA (vigabatrin; 0.05-100 microm) resulted in a large leak current that was block...

BACKGROUND The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic actions of gabapentin remain poorly understood. The chemical structure and behavioral properties of gabapentin strongly suggest actions on inhibitory neurotransmission mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); however, gabapentin does not directly modulate GABAA or GABAB receptors. Two distinct forms of GABAergic inhibition occur in the bra...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article reviews the most significant advances in the field of infantile spasm during the past year, with emphasis on best practise for treatment, and on some new etiological genetic and metabolic causes for the spasms, and new advances in the knowledge of tuberous sclerosis. RECENT FINDINGS Up-to-date information comparing corticotrophin, oral steroids and vigabatrin sh...

Received 2 June 2011. Received in final form 15 July 2011. Accepted 22 July 2011. A 7-month-old with West syndrome was being treated with vigabatrin and a MRI scan was requested to rule out other possible pathologies. The examination revealed typical abnormalities described in the literature with the use of this drug. Vigabatrin was discontinued and follow-up scan showed signal normalization (F...

We investigated the effects of single doses of cocaine (10 mg/kg, ip) and the -aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mimetics tiagabine (10 mg/kg, ip) and vigabatrin (150 mg/kg, ip) injected separately or concomitantly with cocaine, on the responsiveness of cerebral cortical 1-adrenergic receptors. The accumulation of noradrenaline-stimulated inositol phosphates was estimated in vitro at 2 and 24 h after th...

West Syndrome is characterized by infantile spasms, a hypsarrhythmic electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern, and a poor neurodevelopmental prognosis. First-line treatments include adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and vigabatrin, but adverse effects often limit their use. CPP-115 is a high-affinity vigabatrin analogue developed to increase therapeutic potency and to limit retinal toxicity. Here, ...