Xenopus laevis

Abstract

Xenopus laevis, also known as the African clawed frog, has played a significant role in understanding the causes of epilepsy and in identifying and characterizing effective treatments. This has largely been accomplished through the use of the oocytes of Xenopus, which possess many qualities that make them well-suited for the study of ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and membrane transporters involved in the generation of epileptic seizures. The Xenopus tadpole has also been used in important toxicology studies of antiepileptic drugs and as a model of chemically-induced seizures. In this chapter, the use of Xenopus as a model in the study of epilepsy and seizures will be detailed, as well as the advantages and limitations of its use.