Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Maldonado, Monica

Abstract

Post generalized electroencephalographic suppression (PGES) following a generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) may be a biomarker for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) risk. The interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) induces inflammatory response which may be exaggerated in epilepsy, with evidence that the release of inflammatory mediators produced by GTCSs influences epileptogenesis. Preliminary experiments used a transgenic mouse model of adult-onset, progressive epilepsy with an overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (TgBDNF). Electrode implantation recorded controlled seizures that develop at adulthood and increase in severity/frequency with age. PGES duration prolongs with progression, with cellular loss in the nucleus pontis oralis, a brainstem arousal structure. TgBDNF mice were bred with IL-1R knockout (KO) strain to determine if the course or severity of epileptogenesis could change. TgBDNF/IL-1RKO mice develop GTCSs, however the prolongation of PGES with successive seizures is abolished. This is critical for understanding the mechanisms underlying the risk of death associated with adult-onset epilepsy.

Comments

Thesis (B.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2023

Extent

30 p.

Identifier

FAUHT00249

Download

Share

COinS