[Experimental models in epilepsy]

Abstract

Introduction: epilepsy is one of the neurological pathologies with the highest rate of incidence and with a significant number of negatives consequences. Current pharmacological treatments have an antiepileptic effect, allowing control over 70% of the patients, but they are not able to prevent the development of epileptogenesis from occurring.

Method: ee have reviewed the most relevant publications of experimental animal models with epilepsy by using the PubMed data base.

Results: we found a large number of publications related to different kinds of experimental models, both genetic (transgenic, genetically determined) and lesional which appeared to resemble the different types of human epilepsy.

Conclusions: even though many important improvements have been accomplished in the area of epilepsy in the last decades, there are still many aspects to be clarified. In this regard, experimental models might become a very useful means for a better understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and in the search for more efficient treatments.