Abstracts

Summary: The catastrophic epilepsies of childhood are among the most devastating and least understood neurologic disorders. However, new animal models from several laboratories are beginning to allow investigations of seizure mechanisms. After a brief overview of the childhood catastrophic epilepsies by Dr. Stafstrom, Dr. Galanopoulou will discuss a model created by a combination of prenatal doxorubicin and lipopolysaccharide to produce structural damage followed by postnatal PCPA to reduce serotonin levels. Dr. Lee will then present data on a model in which hypsarrhythmia is produced by chronic TTX infusion. Dr. Marsh will discuss a genetic model of infantile spasms involving ARX gene mutations. Finally, Dr. Velisek will discuss a 2-hit model of prenatal betamethasone followed by postnatal NMDA to cause spasm-like seizures. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of these age-dependent epilepsies is prerequisite to the development of novel treatments.