[Problem of focal pathology in "genuine" epilepsy]

Chronic experiments on rats permitted one to obtain an experimental model of photogenic epilepsy. This was accomplished by creating in the external geniculate body (EGB) a generator of pathologically intensified excitation (GPIE) with the aid of tetanus toxin (TT). According to some clinical and electrographic characteristics this form of epilepsy may be alloted to the type of primarily generalized or "genuine" epilepsy. The existance of focal pathology in the respective EGB was detected only by special electrophysiological and pharmacological methods. The studied model demonstrates a necessity of using special methods of detecting brain focal pathology (GPIE) in order to determine the focus of neuron hyperactivity in those cases where the clinical picture is characterized by signs of the so-called genuine epilepsy. Experimental photogenic epilepsy attained by creating GPIE in the EGB with the aid of TT, is proposed as a model for studying the mechanism of epileptogenesis and testing the efficacy of anticonvulsive drugs.