Lowering the extracellular potassium concentration elicits epileptic activity in neocortical tissue of epileptic patients

Eur J Neurosci. 2001 Feb;13(3):639-40. doi: 10.1046/j.0953-816x.2000.01417.x.

Abstract

The increase in the extracellular potassium concentration ([K(+)](o)) is a well-established model of epilepsy (the so-called high potassium model). Therefore, it is generally accepted that for the prevention of abnormal excitability and seizure generation, increases of [K(+)](o) must be avoided. In this paper, however, we show that on the contrary, a reduction of [K(+)](o) also elicits epileptic activity in brain slices of man.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / chemically induced
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / metabolism
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / physiopathology*
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / chemically induced
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / metabolism
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / physiopathology*
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neocortex / metabolism
  • Neocortex / physiopathology*
  • Potassium / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Potassium