Book Review

Recent Advances in Epilepsy Research . D. K. Binder and H. E. Scharfman , eds . In Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology , Volume 48 . Plenum Publishers , New York , 2004 , 253 pp . This volume contains 17 chapters that cover topics on genetic, molecular, cell signalling, neurochemical, electrophysiologic, and therapeutic techniques in epilepsy. According to the editors, Devin Binder and Helen Scharfman, the volume “sets forth a series of chapter reviews by researchers involved in these advances. It is not meant to be a comprehensive overview of the field of epilepsy research, but rather a composite profile of some of the recent investigations in certain select areas of enquiry.” The hardcover volume is nicely bound, and with a few exceptions, the text and figures are generally clear. I found only two errors in text editing, but in one chapter (Chapter 10), color in the original figures was not reproduced. The chapters are generally well written and referenced, and I enjoyed reading them. However, they are not uniformly organized. For example, many but not all start with an abstract and end in a summary. The breadth of coverage also is not uniform among chapters. Some describe research mainly from the author's laboratory, whereas other chapters review the extant literature broadly. Most chapters attempt to relate animal models to human epilepsy, in particular, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The first chapter sets the standard of this volume. In this chapter, Yan Yang and Wayne Frankel give a clear account of gene engineering, even to nonexperts. After knockin of a human epilepsy gene to the mouse genome, methods of how to study the spontaneous or induced seizures by behavioral observations and EEG recordings are reviewed. Several chapters deal with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-receptor functions. Gunther Sperk, Sabine Furtinger, Christoph Schwarzer, and Susanne Pirke give a comprehensive review of the changes in GABAA-receptor subunits in TLE and different models of TLE. Alteration of GABAA- and GABAB-receptor function may contribute to hyperexcitability in different seizure models. George Richerson and Yuanming Wu summarize interesting aspects of the function of the GABA transporter, responsible for both GABA uptake and release. GABA release results from reverse transport of GABA to the outside of the cell to maintain a tonic level of GABA and tonic inhibition, a mechanism that is enhanced by some anticonvulsants. Kevin Staley explains succinctly the mechanisms underlying a depolarizing GABAA-receptor mediated response—a consequence of Cl− accumulation, particularly at dendritic synapses. A change of the GABAA-receptor potential from normal hyperpolarizing to abnormal depolarizing response is a possible transition that contributes to seizures. Among the chapters that concern excitation/synchronization issues, Robert Wong, Shih-Chieh Chuang, and Riccardo Bianchi summarize studies of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1) agonist activated bursting and paroxysmal activity in vitro. However, they do not provide insight into mGluR1 participation in epileptogenesis in vivo. Roger Traub, Hillary Michelson-Law, Andrea Bibbig, Eberhard Buhl, and Miles Whittington review the participation of different types of gap junctions on interneurons and principal cells in the generation of in vitro oscillations. Very high frequency oscillations (>70 Hz) observed to precede seizures in TLE and TLE models are suggested to involve axon–axon gap junctions. In a review of integrins, synaptic plasticity, and epileptogensis, Christine Gall and Gary Lynch provide good evidence for a role of integrins in synaptic plasticity but relatively little evidence for their participation in epileptogenesis. Other topics deal with involvement of various growth factors and cytokines in epileptogenesis. Devin Binder gives a comprehensive review of brain-derived nerve growth factor, and its possible involvement in different epilepsy models and in diseases other than epilepsy. The chapter by Susan Croll, Jeffrey Goodman, and Helen Scharfman provides only preliminary evidence for the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor, a factor for angiogenesis, in epilepsy. By contrast, extensive evidence is available to support the interleukin-1β (IL-1β) role as a proconvulsant, as reviewed by Annamarie Vezzani, Daniela Moneta, Cristina Richichi, Carlos Perego, and Maria Grazia De Simoni. Seizures in turn increase various pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines, which may alter brain excitability and seizure susceptibility. Helen Scharfman gives a timely review of seizure-induced neurogenesis in animal models of TLE, based in part on her electrophysiologic data on newly committed ectopic granule cells in TLE models. She suggests that neurogenesis could contribute to behavioral deficits and more seizures. However, despite the interest in using stem cells to treat various diseases including epilepsy, increased neurogenesis has apparently not been demonstrated in human epilepsy. Several chapters in the book deal with epileptic conditions in developing animals. A chapter by Philip Schwartzkroin, Steven Roper, and Jurgen Wenzel and another by Peter Crino summarize the different types and etiology of human malformations of cortical development (MCDs). Schwartzkroin et al. also review different animal models of cortical dysplasia, grouped as injury based (e.g., induced by methylazoxymethanol acetate or freeze lesion), spontaneous mutants or transgenic animals. Crino emphasizes the genes that cause human MCD and the need for gene-expression assay. Epileptogenesis in MCD is suggested to relate to activity in abnormal cells (neurons or glia) and circuits. Roland Bender, Celine Dube, and Tallie Baram review different animal models of febrile seizure. Febrile seizures, in particular complex ones, are suggested to cause mesial temporal sclerosis and TLE. Bender et al. justify their model of hyperthermia-induced seizures in immature rats and summarize their results. Timothy Benke and John Swann review another model of chronic epilepsy, induced by tetanus toxin injection in the hippocampus of young and old animals. A single tetanus-toxin injection in infant (9–11 days old) rats leads to a persistent chronic epileptic state in adult rats accompanied by long-term behavioral deficits. Two chapters deal with new treatments of epilepsy. Deborah Young and Matthew During review their pioneering work on alleviating seizures and neuronal cell death with NR1 (N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit) immunization and discuss issues related to clinical trials. Jeffrey Goodman examines the extant literature on the use of deep brain stimulation in the possible treatment of epilepsy particularly when combined with seizure detection technology. While admittedly selective in the coverage of recent epilepsy advances, this volume does include diverse fields of epilepsy research and is a valuable resource. It is also written in a style and format that is readable by both clinicians and basic researchers whose focus is epilepsy.

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