New role for an old molecule: Protecting the brain from epileptic seizures
Sunday, March 6, 2011 - 16:30
in Health & Medicine
The aftermath of an epileptic seizure has some mysterious characters, including the molecule putrescine. In new research on tadpoles, which share similar brain chemistry with humans, putrescine emerges as a calming influence that conveys resistance to subsequent seizures. In the long run, the discovery could aid in developing drugs for young children with epilepsy.