A review of mouse mutants as genetic models of epilepsy

Here we review the major inherited convulsive disorders found in mice and discuss their possible relationship to specific clinical seizure disorders in humans. These mouse disorders include audiogenic seizures, the epilepsy (El) mutation, spontaneous seizures, the tottering/learner syndrome, cerebellar abnormalities, myelin disorders, and alcohol withdrawal seizures. Some of these disorders are symptomatic and others are idiopathic. We find that for many major types of epilepsy in humans there exists a similar counterpart in mice. Because the genetic constitution of the mouse is better known and more easily manipulated that that of other mammalian species, the mouse may serve as an excellent animal model for genetic and biochemical studies of epilepsy.