Elsevier

Seizure

Volume 2, Issue 1, March 1993, Pages 21-33
Seizure

Original Article
Mechanisms of post-traumatic seizures: a quantum pharmacological analysis of the molecular properties of an epileptogenic focus following iron-induced membrane peroxidation

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1059-1311(05)80098-6Get rights and content

Late post-traumatic epilepsy following severe head trauma has been well documented. While there is increasing evidence suggesting that iron-induced lipid peroxidation of neural membranes may accompany cerebral haemorrhage, the pathogenic processes of post-traumatic epileptogenesis remain unknown. Furthermore, the effective prophylactic use of standard anticonvulsant drugs is unsubstantiated. The rational design of therapeutic agents specific for the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic epilepsy hinges on understanding the molecular membrane events at the epileptogenic focus. This study employs the techniques of theoretical quantum pharmacology to provide a structural analysis of neural phospholipid membranes, investigating changes in membrane integrity at the epileptogenic focus as the molecular basis for seizure activity. Molecular mechanics calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were used to model the biochemical events of the epileptogenic focus. We predict that applications of quantum pharmacological techniques to model biochemical events may provide an understanding of proconvulsive pathogenic mechanisms in post-traumatic epilepsy.

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  • Cited by (10)

    • Post-traumatic seizures-A prospective, multicenter, large case study after head injury in China

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      However, the mechanisms of PTS caused by contusion are still not clear. According to former studies (Willmore et al., 1978; Dakin and Weaver, 1993; Angeleri et al., 1999; Kharatishvili et al., 2006; Sharma et al., 2007), a possible explanation for this may be the following: cortical neurons injured following contusions, and this would lead the iron from the blood deposited in the cortex; the deposited iron would lead to iron-induced membrane peroxidation, and would make the seizure spread to the subcortical areas (hippocampus mainly); the occurrence and evolution of the epileptiform activity in the subcortical structures would in parallel with that in the cortical focus. Further studies are needed to unveil this topic.

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