Audiogenic Epilepsy -- The Pathological Neural Net and Genetic Predisposition

Abstract

The paper is the minireview of the main data concerning the functional properties of rodent audiogenic epilepsy (AE) in rats of inbred strain Krushinsky-Molodkina -KM (Moscow, Russia). These data demonstrate that the genetically determined abnormal functions of CNS (presumably in brainstem neural circuits) which are the cause of AE could be responsible not only for the clonic and tonic seizures in response to loud sound but for the postictal cataleptic state as well. After AE seizure fit the brain stem acoustic evoked potentials changes, probably due to inactivation of inferior colliculi. AE is the valuable model for the preclinical investigation of new pharmacological agents and for study the intrinsic mechanisms of the epileptogenesis.