Postictal State - Causes - Neurotransmitter Depletion

Neurotransmitter Depletion

Neurotransmitters must be present in the axon terminal and then exocytosed into the synaptic cleft in order to propagate the signal to the next neuron. While neurotransmitters are not typically a limiting factor in neuronal signaling rates, it is possible that with extensive firing during seizures neurotransmitters could be used up faster than new ones could be synthesized in the nucleus and transported down the axon. There is currently no direct evidence for neurotransmitter depletion following seizures.