This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Animal models are used to identify potential new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and to study the effects of combining AEDs with different mechanisms of action. The models most commonly used to identify new AEDs are the maximal electroshock (MES) test, the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) test, and the electrical kindling model. The MES test has been useful in identifying agents that block generalized tonic-clonic seizures by prolonging the inactivation of sodium channels. The PTZ model has proved to be a good predictor of clinical efficacy of generalized spike-wave epilepsies of the absence type, and agents that reduce the calcium flow through T-type calcium channels or that enhance chloride flow through GABA(A) receptors are effective in this model. Electrically or chemically induced kindling is a model of epileptogenesis and has been used to study the epileptogenic process and the molecules that interfere with this process. Many epilepsy patients who fail to achieve adequate seizure control with different monotherapy agents and are unsuitable for surgical management are given polytherapy. Animal models can be used to evaluate different combinations of AEDs before their use in humans. Initial studies have identified combinations associated with supra-additive anticonvulsant effects that may warrant further study.
Footnotes
-
This supplement was supported by an educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Disclosure: The author received grants from the sponsor for other research activities not reported in this research/article and received honoraria (personal compensation) from the sponsor during the course of this study.
Neurology® supplements are not peer-reviewed. Information contained in Neurology® supplements represents the opinions of the authors. These opinions are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views of the American Academy of Neurology, Editor-in-Chief, or Associate Editors of Neurology®.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
