Spreading depolarization stops focal seizures from becoming generalized

Title: Spreading depression as an innate antiseizure mechanism

Journal: Nat Commun 12, 2206 (2021)

Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22464-x

Comments:

In a mouse model, chemically-induced and optogenetically-induced focal seizures triggered spreading depression (SD) which in turn stopped seizures from becoming generalized.

This was further proved when, after blocking SD with the NMDA receptor blocker MK-801, the focal seizures became generalized.

Since SD is conserved in the evolutionary tree from insects to humans, could it be an innate neuroprotective mechanism that shuts down the CNS during seizures?

Further studies on the potential benefits of SD are needed to understand why SD was selected for and conserved in the animal kingdom.