Epileptogenesis and Animal Models of Epilepsies: Overview

Understanding the mechanisms by which sometimes trivial insults lead to the development of a seizure and subsequently the occurrence of epilepsy that may or may not be responding to medication is a hot topic for debate. Figure 38-1 depicts the various stages of the epileptic process. It should be clearly understood that the occurrence of one seizure does not necessarily mean that epilepsy will occur as 5% of the population may have one seizure in their lifetime. Thus epileptogenesis can be defined as the development and expansion of brain regions that are capable of generating either acute seizures, but more important in terms of epilepsy, chronic, recurrent, and spontaneous behavioral seizures associated with electrographic discharges. Therefore, there are three aspects. First, the initial expression of a seizure which can be modeled with a plethora of acute models of epilepsy induced either by pharmacologic means or by electrical stimulation. These are extensively summarized in the...