The genetically epilepsy-prone rat (GEPR).

Abstract

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.

• Authors: P C Jobe, P K Mishra, L E Adams-Curtis, V U Deoskar, K H Ko, R A Browning, J W Dailey
• Journal: Italian journal of neurological sciences (Ital J Neurol Sci) 1995 Feb-Mar Vol. 16 Issue 1-2 Pg. 91-9 ISSN: 0392-0461 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 7642359 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants

Topics

• Animals
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Susceptibility
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Electroencephalography
• Epilepsy (genetics)
• Humans
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley