Cellular and molecular changes in animal models of posttraumatic epilepsy

Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is acquired after initial traumatic brain injury (TBI) leading to unprovoked spontaneous recurrent seizures. In Chapter 7, we reviewed PTE incidence in six mechanical TBI animal models most widely used in preclinical research. Each animal model has demonstrated evidence of PTE, whether from a single injury (fluid percussion injury, controlled cortical impact injury, penetrating ballistic-like injury, and undercut injury) or multiple injuries (repeated weight drop injury and repeated blast-induced injury). In this chapter, we will examine the cellular and molecular changes observed in animals that develop PTE vs animals that do not develop PTE after TBI.