title: The neuroendocrine basis of sex differences in epilepsy.
abstract: Epilepsy affects people of all ages and both genders. Sex differences are well known in epilepsy. Seizure susceptibility and the incidence of epilepsy are generally higher in men than women. In addition, there are gender-specific epilepsies such as catamenial epilepsy, a neuroendocrine condition in which seizures are most often clustered around the perimenstrual or periovulatory period in adult women with epilepsy. Changes in seizure sensitivity are also evident at puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Sex differences in seizure susceptibility and resistance to antiseizure drugs can be studied in experimental models. An improved understanding of the neuroendocrine basis of sex differences or resistance to protective drugs is essential to develop targeted therapies for sex-specific seizure conditions. This article provides a brief overview of the current status of sex differences in seizure susceptibility and the potential mechanisms underlying the gender differences in seizure sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA. Electronic address: reddy@medicine.tamhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Doodipala Samba
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Catamenial epilepsy; Epileptogenesis; Neurosteroid; Pilocarpine; Seizure; Sex difference