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CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5273
ISSN (Online): 1996-3181

Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels in Neurological Disorders

Author(s): Mohamed Chahine, Aurelien Chatelier, Olga Babich and Johannes J. Krupp

Volume 7, Issue 2, 2008

Page: [144 - 158] Pages: 15

DOI: 10.2174/187152708784083830

Price: $65

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium channels play an essential biophysical role in many excitable cells such as neurons. They transmit electrical signals through action potential (AP) generation and propagation in the peripheral (PNS) and central nervous systems (CNS). Each sodium channel is formed by one α-subunit and one or more β-subunits. There is growing evidence indicating that mutations, changes in expression, or inappropriate modulation of these channels can lead to electrical instability of the cell membrane and inappropriate spontaneous activity observed during pathological states. This review describes the biochemical, biophysical and pharmacological properties of neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) and their implication in several neurological disorders.

Keywords: Neuronal excitability, action potential, splice variants, channelopathies, expression, toxins, local anesthetics, subunit specific blockers


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