{
  "abstract": "Absence epilepsy is a generalized non-convulsive epilepsy characterized by recurrent absence seizures (ASs) and enhanced GABAA receptor-mediated tonic inhibition of thalamocortical (TC) neurons has been shown to lead to ASs. Serotonergic signalling is an important modulator of these seizures, yet the contribution of specific 5-HT receptor subtypes remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigated whether endogenous serotonergic signalling through 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) contributes to pathological tonic inhibition and ASs expression. Patch-clamp recordings were obtained from ventrobasal (VB) TC neurons of Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) and non-epileptic control (NEC) rats. The selective 5-HT2AR antagonist MDL11,939 had no effect on tonic GABA-A currents in NEC TC neurons but significantly reduced the enhanced tonic current in GAERS neurons, revealing a disease-dependent contribution of endogenous 5-HT2AR signalling. MDL11,939 administered bilaterally into the VB of freely moving GAERS by reverse microdialysis did not alter ASs. This dissociation between the modulation of a disease-associated cellular mechanism and seizure outcome suggests that the previously reported reduction of ASs by systemic 5-HT2AR blockade may involve mechanisms outside the VB.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Malta"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "A. Cavaccini"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Venzi"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Crunelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "G. Di Giovanni"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4mcm4059195t7.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.19.751734",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.751734v1.full",
  "id": "4mcm4059195t7",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.751734v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Epilepsy research and treatment"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214401786",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.751734v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-19",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4mcm4059195t7.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:24:29Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.19.751734",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.751734v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Block of Thalamic 5-HT2A Receptors modulates Tonic GABA-A Inhibition but not Absence Seizures",
  "title_text": "Block of Thalamic 5-HT2A Receptors modulates Tonic GABA-A Inhibition but not Absence Seizures",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:24:29Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4mcm4059195t7",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}