1- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Mdical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Neurosciences and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
Introduction: Absence epilepsy is a brief non-convulsive seizure associated with sudden abruptness in consciousness. Because of the unpredictable occurrence of absence seizures and the ethical issues of human investigation on the pathogenesis and drug assessment, researchers tend to study animal models. This paper aims to review the advantages and disadvantages of several animal models of nonconvulsive induced seizure.
Methods: The articles that were published since 1990 were assessed. The publications that used genetic animals were analyzed, too. Besides, we reviewed possible application methods of each model, clinical types of seizures induced, purposed mechanism of epileptogenesis, their validity, and relevance to the absence epileptic patients.
Results: The number of studies that used genetic models of absence epilepsy from years of 2000 was noticeably more than pharmacological models. Genetic animal models have a close correlation of electroencephalogram features and epileptic behaviors to the human condition.
Conclusion: The validity of genetic models of absence epilepsy would motivate the researchers to focus on genetic modes in their studies. As there are some differences in the pathophysiology of absence epilepsy between animal models and humans, the development of new animal models is necessary to understand better the epileptogenic process and, or discover novel therapies for this disorder.
Full-Text [PDF 1143 kb]
| |
Full-Text (HTML)
● There are several animal models of absence epilepsy.
● It seems that genetic models are more valid than chemical models.
● WAG/Rij rats as one of genetic model of absence epilepsy have most similarity to human absence epilepsy.
Plain Language Summary
We studied arious laboratory models of absent epilepsy. Typical absence seizures are defined behaviorally by a paroxysmal loss of consciousness without aura or postictal mood and accompanied with bilateral synchronous spike and wave discharges (SWDs). This study helps young students and researchers to select a suitable model for their research by reviewing and validating the models that we have discussed in this article.
Type of Study:
Review |
Subject:
Cellular and molecular Neuroscience Received: 2019/01/21 | Accepted: 2019/12/1 | Published: 2020/11/1