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Developmental seizure models

  • Animal Models Relevant to Human Epilepsies
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Abstract

Seizures frequently occur in children. There are significant differences in the generation, expression and modification of seizures as a function of age. Animal models of epilepsy should depict these age-related differences. In this paper, we summarize the main features of generalized flurothyl, pentylenetetrazol, bicuculline and picrotoxin-induced seizures in adult and immature rats as well as the characteristics of focal seizures induced by amygdala kindling, systemic NMDA and kainic acid. Some of the models may be more advantageous for screening antiepileptic drug effects whereas other models may be more helpful in studying the basic mechanisms of epilepsy.

Sommario

Le crisi epilettiche sono un evento frequente nei bambini e vi sono differenze significative in rapporto all' età per quanto riguarda la genesi, l'espressione e il tipo di crisi. I modelli animali possono mimare queste differenze età-dipendenti. Nel presente lavoro vengono descritte le principali caratteristiche delle crisi generalizzate, indotte da flurotile, pentilenetetrazolo, bicucullina e picrotossina in animali adulti e immaturi nonché le caratteristiche delle crisi focali indotte dal kindling dell' amigdala, da somministrazione sistemica di NMDA e acido cainico. Mentre alcuni modelli possono essere più adatti per valutare gli effetti dei farmaci antiepilettici, altri sono più indicati per lo studio dei meccanismi di base dell' epilessia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, 10461, Bronx, New York, USA

    Velíšek L., Velíšková J. & Moshé S. L. MD

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, 10461, Bronx, New York, USA

    Velíšek L. & Moshé S. L. MD

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, 10461, Bronx, New York, USA

    Moshé S. L. MD

Authors
  1. Velíšek L.
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  2. Velíšková J.
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  3. Moshé S. L. MD
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Additional information

This study was supported by Epilepsy Foundation of America Research Grant (L.V.) and Grant NS-20253 from NINDS (S.L.M.).

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Velíšek, L., Velíšková, J. & Moshé, S.L. Developmental seizure models. Ital J Neuro Sci 16, 127–133 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229085

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