The genetically epilepsy-prone rat (GEPR).
Two independently inbred strains of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPRs) have been developed. GEPR-3s and GEPR-9s have moderate and severe degrees of seizure predisposition as well as expression, respectively. Seizure predisposition is a fundamental distinction between the normal and epileptic brain. Seizure predisposition in GEPRs and in humans with epilepsy includes spontaneous seizures and exaggerated seizure responsiveness and/or abnormally low thresholds to stimuli which also cause seizures in non-epileptic subjects. Activation of brainstem seizure circuitry by auditory input via the inferior colliculus causes electrographic and behavioral responses in GEPR-9s which replicates human generalized tonic/clonic seizures. Activation of brainstem seizure circuitry by input from forebrain seizure circuitry in GEPRs provides a newly discovered model of complex partial seizures with secondary generalization to tonic/clonic seizures. Thus, seizure predisposition in GEPRs offers a unique opportunity to study the human epilepsies that is not offered in studies of normal brain exposed to convulsant stimuli.
Jobe
P C
PC
Department of Basic Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, USA.
Mishra
P K
PK
Adams-Curtis
L E
LE
Deoskar
V U
VU
Ko
K H
KH
Browning
R A
RA
Dailey
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000927:Anticonvulsants