EXPERIMENTAL EMOTIONAL DISORDERS IN EPILEPSY AND THE IMPLICATION OF MUSCARINIC ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS: A FORGOTTEN PUTATIVE THERAPEUTIC TARGET

Resumo

Over the last decades it has been observed a major breakthrough in the development of new drugs in the treatment of emotional disorders. Despite this evolutionary framework, the neurobiological mechanisms involved in anxiety process are poorly understood and new approaches are still required, taking into account the resistance to therapies and therapeutic side-effects. Despite the clear involvement of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) in the modulation of synaptic transmission and its role in controlling experimental epileptogenesis and emotional outcomes, little attention has been paid to this neurotransmitter system and its feasible action in the treatment of pathological processes. In this sense, the present review aims to shed light on this important, but not deeply explored receptor system in the control of experimental epilepsy and anxiety, besides discussing its implementation in translational studies.