Epileptogenesis after experimental focal cerebral ischemia

Cerebrovascular diseases are one of the most common causes of epilepsy in adults, and the incidence of stroke-induced epileptogenesis is increasing as the population ages. The mechanisms that lead to stroke-induced epileptogenesis in a subpopulation of patients, however, are still poorly understood. Recent advances in inducing epileptogenesis in rodent focal ischemia models have provided tools that can be used to identify the risk factors and neurobiologic changes leading to development of epilepsy after stroke. Here we summarize data from models in which epileptogenesis has been studied after focal ischemia; photothrombosis, middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion with filament, and endothelin-1-induced MCA occlusion. Analysis of the data indicates that neurobiologic changes occurring during stroke-induced epileptogenesis share some similarities to those induced by status epilepticus or traumatic brain injury.