ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders affecting approximately 1% of the general population, and no alleviation was achieved in one third of the patients medicated with antiepileptic drugs. Current treatments of epilepsy are symptomatic and have more anti-seizure effects than antiepileptic effects. These therapies do not cure epilepsy. Basic mechanisms of epilepsy have not entirely been clarified yet. Using seizure and epilepsy animal models, our comprehension about basic mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis has improved. In addition, animal models of epilepsy and seizures are very useful in the discovery and development of new antiepileptic drugs. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) is widely used in antiepileptic drug discovery studies, and PTZ kindling model is very important to understand the pathophysiology of epilepsy. In this review, current information about PTZ kindling model was given in this aspect.

Keywords: Chemical kindling, epilepsy, experimental animal models, pentylenetetrazole, rat