Searching for a neurobiological basis for the development of epilepsy in kindled convulsions model

Epilepsy is a condition whose nature is still poorly understood. Despite the conducted research, it is still not possible to identify the reasons for the increased sensitivity of some people to convulsive factors, as well as the reasons why standard antiepileptic therapy is not effective in a certain percentage of patients. The aim of our research is to try to analyze the basis of individual differences in the rate of development of seizures, as well as differences in response to antiepileptic drugs. The analysis will include the assessment of biochemical parameters (concentrations of monoamines, inhibitory and excitatory amino acids) and immunocytochemical parameters (expression of selected receptor subunits, inflammatory mediators and markers of neuroplastic remodeling). An important element will also be the analysis of the expression of the REST protein involved in the regulation of GABAergic activity and mTOR kinase activity, the role of which in the pathogenesis of epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis is indisputable; however, its possible participation in the pathogenesis of acquired epilepsy is also postulated at present. We also plan to analyze the effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs in selected populations with different susceptibility to the development of seizures.