Experimental models for the study of hormonal changes in epilepsy

Abstract

Reproductive endocrine dysfunction is common among both women and men with epilepsy. The reasons for this are multifactorial and bidirectional; epilepsy can affect hormones, and hormones can affect seizures. Furthermore, several antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can have endocrine side-effects, while psychosocial factors and co-morbidity add further complexity. Animal models and experimental models using human tissue or cell lines provide new approaches to investigating the independent effects of the epilepsy itself, hormonal effects, and the effects of AEDs, in isolation and without confounding factors. This paper reviews the literature regarding animal studies and selected experiments using human cell lines related to reproductive endocrine function in epilepsy. By comparing results from clinical and experimental studies and by developing appropriate animal models, several mechanistic questions regarding the complex interplay between epilepsy, hormones, and AEDs can be explored. Animal experiments should be an integral tool in the study of reproductive endocrine disorders in epilepsy.