Antiepileptic drug evaluation in a new animal model: spontaneous petit mal epilepsy in the rat.

摘要: One-third of Wistar rats bred in our laboratory present recurrent seizures whose EEG and clinical symptomatology resemble those human petit mal. Bilateral cortical synchronous spike- wave discharges (7-11 c/s; 200-600 microV, lasting 0.5 to 40 s) accompany behavioral arrest are associated frequently with facial myoclonia. These seizures, observed as long the animals survive, appear spontaneously seem be unrelated surgical procedures. Antiepileptics common use were tested. Ethosuximide (greater than 12.5 mg/kg), diazepam trimethadione sodium valproate 50 mg/kg) suppressed these a dose related manner. Carbamazepine phenytoin ineffective or aggravated seizures. Phenobarbital, effective at 2.5 10 mg/kg, was 20 mg/kg. The similar effects antiepileptics on both rats' mal confirm hypothesis that this phenomenon constitutes valid pharmacological model epilepsy. Its predictive value appears superior other currently used models.