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. 2020 Oct;72(4):767–800. doi: 10.1124/pr.119.017392

TABLE 3.

Effects of sex steroid treatment on seizure susceptibility in preclinical rodent models

Estrogen Progesterone Testosterone
Generalized (Motor)
Picrotoxin ♀ = Anticonvulsant ♂ = Increased sensitivity ♀ = Proconvulsant
♂ = Anticonvulsant
Pentlyenetetrazole Rats, ♀ = proepileptogenic Rat: anticonvulsant Rat: anticonvulsant
NMDA Sensitivity: OVX > control Mice, ♂ = anticonvulsant
♀ = Anticonvulsant
Electroshock Proconvulsant Anticonvulsant Both pro- and anticonvulsant effects
Generalized (Absence)
WAG/Rij More seizures during proestrus
Focal
Kainic acid Rat: proconvulsant Rat: castration is anticonvulsant
Pilocarpine Rats, ♀: agonists increase seizure frequency
Kindling Rats: proepileptogenic Rats, ♀ = proepileptogenic Proepileptogenic