The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is hormone system that regulates blood pressure and water-electrolyte balance. It has various components, which are explained in more detail here. In the central nervous system the RAS system has mostly been associated with processes that help to keep the environment of the body constant. These are called homeostatic processes and include thirst, hormone secretion and heat regulation.

Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine at Ribeirão Preto, in Brazil, recently discovered that, in certain animal models, two molecules involved in the RAS system increase in quantity in the brain after repetitive epileptic seizures. These molecules are known as angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin I receptors (AT1), and their levels have been seen to increase up to 2.6- and 2.8-fold respectively.

These findings suggest that ACE and AT1 might be involved in seizure activity, so the scientists treated the models with compounds known as enalapril and losartan, to block both ACE and AT1 function. They then examined the effect on the animals' seizures and noticed a significant decrease in seizure severity.

These results are very encouraging, because if they are replicated in humans, drugs that target the RAS system could potentially be used as anti-convulsant agents in the future. These would serve as an additional strategy in the management of people with epilepsy.

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