Generalized non convulsive epilepsy (GNCE), also called absence or petit
mal epilepsy, is a disease appearing during childhood. EEG, clinical,
pharmacological and genetic characteristics differ from those of
convulsive or focal epilepsies. No underlying structural or biochemical
abnormality has been identified for generalized absence seizures and the
etiology of this disorder is unknown. It is unlikely that the precise
pathophysiology of GNCE can be resolved in studies that focus on humans.
Therefore a number of animal models reproducing the human disease have
been developed. The aim of this supplementum is to characterize such
models in rodents. First, recent models are extensively described. These
include the genetic model of spontaneous GNCE in Strasbourg's Wistar
rats and in tottering mice as well as bilateral spike and wave
discharges induced by GHB, PTZ or GABA mimetics. Second, this
supplementum will also provide very recent information on putative
mechanisms underlying generalized absence seizures. Third, various
experimental approaches aimed at investigating the neural substrate of
this particular kind of epilepsy are described with various
electrophysiological, pharmacological, biochemical, metabolic, ionic and
molecular data. This supplementum provides an original multidisciplinary
approach to the mechanisms involved in GNCE and demonstrates that rodent
models are a promising tool which complements the classical feline
penicillin model.
