Summary: Researchers report, in restless leg syndrome, neurons targeting muscles may be responsible.
Source: The Physiological Society.
New research published in the Journal of Physiology presents a breakthrough in the treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
RLS is a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming irresistible urge to move the legs. Patients complain of unpleasant symptoms such as tingling, burning and painful cramping sensations in the leg. More than 80% of people with RLS experience their legs jerking or twitching uncontrollably, usually at night.
Until now it was thought that RLS is caused by genetic, metabolic and central nervous system mechanisms. For the first time the researchers show that, in fact, it is not only the central nervous system but also the nerve cells targeting the muscles themselves that are responsible.
This new research indicates that the involuntary leg movements in RLS are caused by increased excitability of the nerve cells that supply the muscles in the leg, which results in an increased number of signals being sent between nerve cells.
Targeting the way messages are sent between nerve cells to reduce the number of messages to normal levels may help prevent the symptoms of RLS occurring. This could be achieved by new drugs that block the ion channels that are essential for the communication between nerve cells.
The research conducted by the University of Gottingen in conjunction with the University of Sydney and Vanderbilt University involved measuring the nerve excitability of motor nerve cells of patients suffering with RLS and healthy subjects.
The next step is to investigate the effect of different medications in patients and the effect on RLS.
Dirk Czesnik, corresponding author of the study, commented on the findings:
‘Patients who suffer from Restless legs syndrome complain of painful symptoms in the legs leading to sleep disturbances. The mechanisms for RLS are still not completely understood. We have shown that also the nerve cells supplying muscles in the leg are responsible and hereby additional drug treatments may be ahead targeting these nerve cells.’
Funding: The Physiological Society funded this study.
Source: Andrew Mackenzie – The Physiological Society
Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Open access research for “Ih contributes to increased motoneuron excitability in restless legs syndrome” by Dirk Czesnik, James Howells, Michael Bartl, Elisabeth Veiz, Rebecca Ketzler, Olga Kemmet, Arthur S. Walters, Claudia Trenkwalder, David Burke, and Walter Paulus in Journal of Physiology. Published November 14 2018.
doi:10.1113/JP275341
[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]The Physiological Society”Breakthrough in Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 17 November 2018.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/restless-leg-syndrome-treatment-10216/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]The Physiological Society(2018, November 17). Breakthrough in Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved November 17, 2018 from https://neurosciencenews.com/restless-leg-syndrome-treatment-10216/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]The Physiological Society”Breakthrough in Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome.” https://neurosciencenews.com/restless-leg-syndrome-treatment-10216/ (accessed November 17, 2018).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]
Abstract
Ih contributes to increased motoneuron excitability in restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a sensorimotor network disorder. So far, the responsible pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that the excitability of peripheral motoneurons contributes to the pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome. In vivo excitability studies on motor and sensory axons of the median nerve were performed on patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome (iRLS) who were not currently on treatment. The iRLS patients had greater accommodation in motor but not sensory axons to long‐lasting hyperpolarization than age‐matched healthy subjects, indicating greater inward rectification in iRLS. The most reasonable explanation is that HCN channels open at less hyperpolarized membrane potentials, a view supported by mathematical modelling. The half‐activation potential for HCN [hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated] channels (Bq) was the single best parameter that accounted for the difference between normal controls and iRLS data. A 6‐mV depolarization of Bq reduced the discrepancy between the normal control model and the iRLS data by 92.1%
Taken together, our results suggest for the first time an increase in excitability of motor units in iRLS which could enhance the likelihood of leg movements. The abnormal axonal properties are consistent with other findings that the peripheral system is part of the network involved in iRLS.
