Spanish scientists discover that epilepsy occurs with excesses or the absence of the cellular

The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, was conducted by researchers from IBEC and the University of Barcelona (UB), headed by Jose Antonio del Rio

Spanish scientists discover that epilepsy occurs with excesses or the absence of the cellular prion protein, PrPc.

This is an important finding to better understand the basis of this disorder, the statement was released today from the Bioengineering Institute of Catalonia (IBEC).

Researchers found that epileptic periods appear when you alter the threshold of excitability of the central nervous system and that the protein, in proper concentrations, is "vital" to ensure balance in neurotransmissions.

The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, was conducted by researchers from IBEC and the University of Barcelona (UB), headed by Jose Antonio del Rio, with the collaboration of the University Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla and the National Research Institute, Agricultural and Food Technology.

The balance in the central nervous system is produced by the weighting between the mechanisms that excite neurons and inhibit it, and the study found, in experimental animals, when there is no PrPc excitatory mechanisms are altered, a fact which may give rise to epileptic episodes.

Given this fact, the scientists hoped to document that the increased presence of the protein provides better protection against this phenomenon, but were "surprised" to discover that too much protein increases the excitability of the central nervous system "even more" than its absence.
Researchers from IBEC and UB who participated in the study are currently developing a project to characterize possible differences in the expression and modification of the cellular prion protein in patients with epilepsy.



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