Fig. 1.

Experimental protocol and characteristics of epilepsy animal model. A. Experimental protocol. Adult animals underwent pilocarpine induction and then were implanted with epidural EEG electrodes and an i.c.v. cannula connected to a vehicle pump at week 5 post-SE. A 10-day continuous baseline video-EEG monitoring period began at week 6, followed by a change to a drug-containing pump, and repeat 10-day monitoring. Following this monitoring period, the animals were sacrificed. B. EEG tracing during a typical Racine class 5 seizure. Shown are right (R) and left (L) epidural cortical electrode channels, with behavioral changes and Racine classifications noted during the course of the electrographic seizure. The typical convulsive seizure in this model is readily apparent from the onset of a high amplitude, high frequency electrographic discharge that gradually increases in amplitude followed by a waning phase. C. Seizure frequency in animals treated throughout weeks 6–9 with a saline pump. Traces show average C3–5 seizure frequency during the two 14-day periods for six animals. Animals with increased seizure frequency are depicted in red; those with decreased seizure frequency in blue. There was variability in the baseline seizure frequency, but little change in seizure frequency in individual animals between weeks 6–7 and 8–9. D. Distribution of Racine classifications and seizure durations for all seizures recorded as shown in Fig. 1C. C3–5 seizures with major motor manifestations (C3–4) or convulsions (C5) were the predominant seizure types. The median seizure duration was 50 sec.