In vivo models of cortical acquired epilepsy.
The neocortex is the site of origin of several forms of acquired epilepsy. Here we provide a brief review of experimental models that were recently developed to study neocortical epileptogenesis as well as some major results obtained with these methods. Most of neocortical seizures appear to be nocturnal and it is known that neuronal activities reveal high levels of synchrony during slow-wave sleep. Therefore, we start the review with a description of mechanisms of neuronal synchronization and major forms of synchronized normal and pathological activities. Then, we describe three experimental models of seizures and epileptogenesis: ketamine-xylazine anesthesia as feline seizure triggered factor, cortical undercut as cortical penetrating wound model and neocortical kindling. Besides specific technical details describing these models we also provide major features of pathological brain activities recorded during epileptogenesis and seizures. The most common feature of all models of neocortical epileptogenesis is the increased duration of network silent states that up-regulates neuronal excitability and eventually leads to epilepsy.
Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec (CRIUSMQ), Local F-6500, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada G1J2G3.
Sylvain
S
Chauvette
Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec (CRIUSMQ), Local F-6500, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada G1J2G3; Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Sara
S
Soltani
Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec (CRIUSMQ), Local F-6500, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada G1J2G3.
Josée
J
Seigneur
Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec (CRIUSMQ), Local F-6500, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada G1J2G3; Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: igor.timofeev@fmed.ulaval.ca.
Igor
I
Timofeev
D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks; D002415:Cats; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic; D051379:Mice; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D051381:Rats
Epilepsy; Epileptogenesis; Kindling; Seizure; Trauma; Undercut