The Antiepileptic Drug Levetiracetam Stabilizes the Human Epileptic GABA_A Receptors upon Repetitive Activation

Abstract

We report that the antiepileptic LEV strengthens GABA inhibition of neuronal circuits by blocking the receptor run-down in the cortex whilst leaving the run-down of GABAA receptors in the hippocampal subiculum unaltered. These findings point to the GABAA receptor run-down as an important event in epileptogenesis and as a possible target for testing and screening antiepileptic drugs.