Animal modeling of poststroke seizures and epilepsy: 5-year update.

Poststroke seizures and epilepsy have been described in numerous clinical and epidemiological studies over many years. In contrast, the pathophysiological events occurring in injured brain that establish poststroke epileptogenesis and epilepsy are not known. However, in the last several years, animal modeling has made significant inroads toward an improved understanding of the progressive biochemical, anatomical, and physiological changes associated with both early and late seizures following stroke. A review of animal studies of poststroke seizures and epilepsy is presented.